The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order is made as a consequence of a review under section 150 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (“the Administration Act”) and includes details of the sums mentioned in that section.

Part 2 of the Order relates to social security benefits, pensions and allowances.

Article 3 and Schedule 1 alter the benefits and increases of benefits (excepting those referred to in article 3(2) specified in Parts I, III, IV and V of Schedule 4 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (“the Contributions and Benefits Act”)).

Article 4 increases the rates and amounts of certain pensions and allowances under the Contributions and Benefits Act.

Article 5 increases the sums payable as part of a Category A or Category B retirement pension under sections 15(1) and 17(2) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (“the Pension Schemes Act”) on account of increases in guaranteed minimum pensions.

Article 6 specifies the dates from which the sums specified for rates or amounts of benefits under the Contributions and Benefits Act or the Pension Schemes Act are altered.

Article 7 increases the rates of certain workmen’s compensation and industrial injuries benefits in respect of employment before 5th July 1948.

Article 8 specifies earnings limits for child dependency increases.

Article 9 increases the weekly rate of statutory sick pay.

Article 10 specifies the weekly rate of statutory maternity pay.

Article 11 specifies the weekly rates of statutory paternity pay and statutory adoption pay.

Article 12 increases the rate of graduated retirement benefit.

Article 13 increases the rate of disability living allowance.

Article 14 increases the weekly rates of age addition to long-term incapacity benefit.

Article 15 increases the weekly rates of transitional invalidity allowance in long-term incapacity benefit cases.

Part 3 of the Order relates to income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

Article 16 states the amount of sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of income support. Article 16(3) and Schedule 2 set out the personal allowances; article 16(4) and (5) and Schedule 3 set out the premiums; article 16(7) and Schedule 4 set out the amounts relevant to special cases; and article 16(8) and Schedule 5 set out other miscellaneous amounts as in force on 24th January 2007.

Article 17 provides for the percentage increase of sums payable by way of special transitional additions to income support.

Article 18 states the sum by which any income support of a person involved in a trade dispute is reduced.

Article 19 states the amount of the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of housing benefit. Article 19(6) and Schedule 6 set out the personal allowances and article 19(8) and Schedule 7 set out the premiums.

Article 20 states the amount of the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of housing benefit for certain persons over the qualifying age for state pension credit. Article 20(6) and Schedule 8 set out the personal allowances and article 20(7) and (8) and Schedule 9 set out the premiums.

Article 21 states the amount of the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of council tax benefit. Article 21(4) and Schedule 10 set out the personal allowances and article 21(5) and (6) and Schedule 11 set out the premiums.

Article 22 states the amount of the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of council tax benefit for certain persons over the qualifying age for state pension credit. Article 22(4) and Schedule 12 set out the personal allowances and article 22(5) and (6) and Schedule 13 set out the premiums.

Part 4 of the Order relates to jobseeker’s allowance.

Article 23 increases the age-related amounts for contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance.

Article 24 states the amount of sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of income-based jobseeker’s allowance. Article 24(3) and Schedule 14 set out the personal allowances; article 24(4) and (5) and Schedule 15 set out the premiums; article 24(6) and Schedule 16 set out the premiums for joint-claim couples; article 24(8) and Schedule 17 set out the amounts relevant to special cases; article 24(9) and Schedule 18 set out the amounts relevant to joint-claim special cases and article 24(11) and Schedule 19 set out other miscellaneous amounts.

Article 25 states the sum by which any jobseeker’s allowance of a person involved in a trade dispute is reduced.

Part 5 of the Order relates to state pension credit.

Article 26 and Schedule 20 specify the amounts relevant to state pension credit.

Part 6 of the Order provides for the revocation of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/645).

In accordance with section 150(8) of the Administration Act, a copy of the report of the Government Actuary (Cm 7021) giving his opinion on the likely effect on the National Insurance Fund of the making of this Order was laid before Parliament with the draft Order.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no new impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.