These Regulations further amend the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 by providing that for the purpose of calculating the eligible rent of a student during the period of his study, the prescribed deductions shall not apply to a student who is on an income-based jobseeker’s allowance (regulation 2).

These Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding 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 Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.