The Income-Related Benefits (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Family Credit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 and the Disability Working Allowance (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992.

Regulation 2 increases, from £278 to £280, the amount to be allowed in respect of the cost of books and equipment in calculating a student’s grant income.

Regulation 3 increases, from £17·40 to £17·45, the amount of the deduction to be made in calculating a student’s eligible rent for housing benefit purposes.

Regulation 4 contains a consequential revocation.

In so far as these Regulations are required, for the purposes of regulation 2(b), to be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee under section 149(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), (“the 1992 Act”), after agreement by the Social Security Advisory Committee, they have not been so referred by virtue of section 150(1)(b) of that Act. Otherwise these Regulations correspond to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Social Security in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the 1992 Act, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.