The Social Security (Students and Income-Related Benefits Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 and the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 in so far as those Regulations apply to students.

In particular, they –

• amend the definitions of “access funds”, “periods of experience” and “sandwich course” (regulation 2);

• increase the amounts of grant and loan income to be disregarded (to £265 and £327 respectively) in respect of books and equipment and for travel costs (regulation 3);

• provide for the disregard of childcare grants payable under Great Britain legislation and of the child care component of the National Assembly for Wales Learning Grants (regulation 4(1) and (2));

• provide for both grant income and student loans to be apportioned over complete benefit weeks (regulations 4(3), (4), (7) and (8) and 5);

• clarify the position as regards the apportionment of amounts in grants intended for the maintenance of dependants (regulation 4(5) and (6));

• abolish the student rent deduction and make consequential amendments (regulation 6).

• make a minor amendment (regulation 7).

In so far as these Regulations are required, for the purposes of regulations 2(1) and (2)(a), 3(1), (2) and (3)(a), 4(1), (2)(a), (3), (4)(a), (5), (6)(a), (7) and (8)(a), 5(1) to (5) and (6)(a), 6 and 7(1) and (2)(a), to be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee under section 149(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, (“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 they make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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.

These Regulations do not impose any charge on business.