The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015

Elements of an award N.I.

Standard allowance N.I.

14.—(1) The calculation of an award of universal credit is to include an amount by way of an allowance for—

(a) a single claimant, or

(b) joint claimants.

(2) Regulations are to specify the amount to be included under paragraph (1).

(3) Regulations may provide for exceptions to paragraph (1).

Commencement Information

I1 Art. 14 in operation at 2.5.2016 for specified purposes by S.R. 2016/215, art. 2(2)(a)

I2 Art. 14 in operation at 27.9.2017 for specified purposes by S.R. 2017/190, art. 4(3)-(6), Sch. 1 (with art. 5)

I3 Art. 14 in operation at 15.11.2017 and 13.12.2017 for specified purposes by S.R. 2017/216, art. 3 (with art. 6) (as amended (15.1.2018) by S.R. 2018/1, art. 7)

I4 Art. 14 in operation at 17.1.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.R. 2018/1, art. 3 (with art. 6)

I5 Art. 14 in operation at 16.5.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.R. 2018/97, art. 3 (with art. 6)

I6 Art. 14 in force at 5.9.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.R. 2018/138, art. 3 (with art. 6)

I7 Art. 14 in force at 1.2.2019 for specified purposes by S.R. 2019/7, art. 2(1)-(3) (with art. 2(4)(11))

I8 Art. 14 in operation at 30.3.2022 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2022/132, art. 3 (with arts. 4, 5, Sch.)

Responsibility for children and young persons N.I.

15.—(1) The calculation of an award of universal credit is to include an amount for each child or qualifying young person for whom a claimant is responsible.

[F1 (1A) But the amount mentioned in paragraph (1) is to be available in respect of a maximum of two persons who are either children or qualifying young persons for whom a claimant is responsible.]

(2) Regulations may make provision for the inclusion of an additional amount [F2 for each] child or qualifying young person [F3 for whom a claimant is responsible who] is disabled.

(3) Regulations are to specify, or provide for the calculation of, amounts to be included under paragraph (1) or (2).

(4) Regulations may provide for exceptions to paragraph (1) [F4 or (1A)] .

(5) In this Part, “qualifying young person” means a person of a prescribed description.

Textual Amendments

F1 Art. 15(1A) inserted (11.3.2017) by The Welfare Reform and Work (Northern Ireland) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/999), arts. 2(1), 10(2); S.R. 2017/46, art. 2(b)

F2 Words in art. 15(2) substituted (11.3.2017) by The Welfare Reform and Work (Northern Ireland) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/999), arts. 2(1), 10(3)(a); S.R. 2017/46, art. 2(b)

F3 Words in art. 15(2) inserted (11.3.2017) by The Welfare Reform and Work (Northern Ireland) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/999), arts. 2(1), 10(3)(b); S.R. 2017/46, art. 2(b)

F4 Words in art. 15(4) inserted (11.3.2017) by The Welfare Reform and Work (Northern Ireland) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/999), arts. 2(1), 10(4); S.R. 2017/46, art. 2(b)

Commencement Information

I9 Art. 15 in operation at 2.5.2016 for specified purposes by S.R. 2016/215, art. 2(2)(a)

I10 Art. 15 in operation at 27.9.2017 for specified purposes by S.R. 2017/190, art. 4(3)-(6), Sch. 1 (with art. 5)

I11 Art. 15 in operation at 15.11.2017 and 13.12.2017 for specified purposes by S.R. 2017/216, art. 3 (with art. 6) (as amended (15.1.2018) by S.R. 2018/1, art. 7)

I12 Art. 15 in operation at 17.1.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.R. 2018/1, art. 3 (with art. 6)

I13 Art. 15 in operation at 16.5.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.R. 2018/97, art. 3 (with art. 6)

I14 Art. 15 in force at 5.9.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.R. 2018/138, art. 3 (with art. 6)

I15 Art. 15 in force at 1.2.2019 for specified purposes by S.R. 2019/7, art. 2(1)-(3) (with art. 2(4)(11))

I16 Art. 15 in operation at 30.3.2022 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2022/132, art. 3 (with arts. 4, 5, Sch.)

Housing costs N.I.

16.—(1) The calculation of an award of universal credit is to include an amount in respect of any liability of a claimant to make payments in respect of the accommodation the claimant occupies as his or her home.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)—

(a) the accommodation must be in Northern Ireland;

(b) the accommodation must be residential accommodation;

(c) it is immaterial whether the accommodation consists of the whole or part of a building and whether or not it comprises separate and self-contained premises.

(3) Regulations may make provision as to—

(a) what is meant by payments in respect of accommodation for the purposes of this ArticleF5 ...;

(b) circumstances in which a claimant is to be treated as liable or not liable to make such payments;

(c) circumstances in which a claimant is to be treated as occupying or not occupying accommodation as his or her home (and, in particular, for temporary absences to be disregarded);

(d) circumstances in which land used for the purposes of any accommodation is to be treated as included in the accommodation.

(4) Regulations are to provide for the determination or calculation of any amount to be included under this Article.

(5) Regulations may—

(a) provide for exceptions to paragraph (1);

(b) provide for inclusion of an amount under this Article in the calculation of an award of universal credit—

(i) to end at a prescribed time, or

(ii) not to start until a prescribed time.

Textual Amendments

F5 Words in art. 16(3)(a) omitted (6.4.2018) by virtue of The Welfare Reform and Work (Northern Ireland) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/999), arts. 2(1), 15(10); S.R. 2018/66, art. 2(1) (with art. 2(2)(3))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Art. 16(1) excluded (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1 of the amending Rule) by The Universal Credit Regulations (NorthernIreland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/216), reg. 1, Sch. 4 para. 4

C2 Art. 16(1) excluded (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1 of the amending Rule) by The Universal Credit Regulations (NorthernIreland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/216), reg. 1, Sch. 5 para. 4(1)

Commencement Information

I17 Art. 16 in operation at 2.5.2016 for specified purposes by S.R. 2016/215, art. 2(2)(a)

I18 Art. 16 in operation at 27.9.2017 for specified purposes by S.R. 2017/190, art. 4(3)-(6), Sch. 1 (with art. 5)

I19 Art. 16 in operation at 15.11.2017 and 13.12.2017 for specified purposes by S.R. 2017/216, art. 3 (with art. 6) (as amended (15.1.2018) by S.R. 2018/1, art. 7)

I20 Art. 16 in operation at 17.1.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.R. 2018/1, art. 3 (with art. 6)

I21 Art. 16 in operation at 16.5.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.R. 2018/97, art. 3 (with art. 6)

I22 Art. 16 in force at 5.9.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.R. 2018/138, art. 3 (with art. 6)

I23 Art. 16 in force at 1.2.2019 for specified purposes by S.R. 2019/7, art. 2(1)-(3) (with art. 2(4)(11))

I24 Art. 16 in operation at 30.3.2022 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2022/132, art. 3 (with arts. 4, 5, Sch.)

Other particular needs or circumstances N.I.

17.—(1) The calculation of an award of universal credit is to include amounts in respect of such particular needs or circumstances of a claimant as may be prescribed.

(2) The needs or circumstances prescribed under paragraph (1) may include—

F6 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) the fact that a claimant has limited capability for work and work-related activity;

(c) the fact that a claimant has regular and substantial caring responsibilities for a severely disabled person.

(3) Regulations are to specify, or provide for the determination or calculation of, any amount to be included under paragraph (1).

(4) Regulations may—

(a) provide for inclusion of an amount under this Article in the calculation of an award of universal credit—

(i) to end at a prescribed time, or

(ii) not to start until a prescribed time;

(b) provide for the manner in which a claimant's needs or circumstances are to be determined.

Textual Amendments

F6 Art. 17(2)(a) omitted (27.9.2017) by virtue of The Welfare Reform and Work (Northern Ireland) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/999), arts. 2(1), 11; S.R. 2017/166, art. 3(a)

Commencement Information

I25 Art. 17 in operation at 2.5.2016 for specified purposes by S.R. 2016/215, art. 2(2)(a)

I26 Art. 17 in operation at 27.9.2017 for specified purposes by S.R. 2017/190, art. 4(3)-(6), Sch. 1 (with art. 5)

I27 Art. 17 in operation at 15.11.2017 and 13.12.2017 for specified purposes by S.R. 2017/216, art. 3 (with art. 6) (as amended (15.1.2018) by S.R. 2018/1, art. 7)

I28 Art. 17 in operation at 17.1.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.R. 2018/1, art. 3 (with art. 6)

I29 Art. 17 in operation at 16.5.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.R. 2018/97, art. 3 (with art. 6)

I30 Art. 17 in force at 5.9.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes by S.R. 2018/138, art. 3 (with art. 6)

I31 Art. 17 in force at 1.2.2019 for specified purposes by S.R. 2019/7, art. 2(1)-(3) (with art. 2(4)(11))

I32 Art. 17 in operation at 30.3.2022 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2022/132, art. 3 (with arts. 4, 5, Sch.)