8.—(1) Section 129 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7) (housing benefit) is amended as follows.
(2) At the end of subsection (2) there is inserted—
“This subsection is subject to subsection (2A).
(2A) Except to the extent that regulations otherwise provide, payments in respect of services which provide support, assistance, advice or counselling to individuals with particular needs are not “payments in respect of a dwelling” for the purposes of subsection (1).” .