The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

Calculation of claimant’s income and capital in savings credit only cases

25.—(1) In determining the income and capital of a claimant who has, or whose partner has, an award of state pension credit comprising only the savings credit, the relevant authority shall, subject to the following provisions of this regulation, use the calculation or estimate of the claimant’s or, as the case may be, the claimant’s partner’s income and capital made by the Department for the purpose of determining that award.

(2) The Department shall provide the relevant authority with details of the calculation or estimate—

(a) if the claimant is on housing benefit or has claimed housing benefit, within the 2 working days following the day the calculation or estimate was determined, or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter; or

(b) if sub-paragraph (a) does not apply, within the 2 working days following the day he receives information from the relevant authority that the claimant or his partner has claimed housing benefit, or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.

(3) The details provided by the Department shall include the amount taken into account in that determination in respect of the net income of the person claiming state pension credit.

(4) The relevant authority shall modify the amount of the net income provided by the Department only in so far as necessary to take into account—

(a) the amount of the savings credit payable;

(b) in respect of any dependent children of the claimant, childcare charges taken into account under regulation 28(1)(c);

(c) the higher amount disregarded under these Regulations in respect of—

(i) lone parent’s earnings;

(ii) payments of maintenance, whether under a court order or not, which is made or due to be made by—

(aa) the claimant’s former partner, or the claimant’s partner’s former partner; or

(bb) the parent of a child or young person where that child or young person is a member of the claimant’s family except where that parent is the claimant or the claimant’s partner;

(d) any amount to be disregarded by virtue of paragraph 9(1) of Schedule 5;

(e) the income and capital of any partner of the claimant who is treated as a member of the claimant’s household under regulation 19 to the extent that it is not taken into account in determining the net income of the person claiming state pension credit;

(f) regulation 22, if the relevant authority determines that this provision applies in the claimant’s case;

(g) any income, in excess of £10, which falls to be disregarded under the provisions of paragraph 1 of Schedule 6.

(5) Regulations 27 to 47 shall not apply to the amount of the net income to be taken into account by the relevant authority under paragraph (1), but shall apply (so far as relevant) for the purpose of determining any modifications which fall to be made to that amount under paragraph (4).

(6) The relevant authority shall for the purpose of determining the claimant’s entitlement of housing benefit use, except where paragraphs (7) and (8) apply, the calculation of the claimant’s capital made by the Department, and shall in particular apply the provisions of regulation 41 if the claimant’s capital is calculated as being in excess of £16,000.

(7) If paragraph (8) applies, the relevant authority shall calculate the claimant’s capital in accordance with regulations 41 to 47.

(8) This paragraph applies if—

(a) the Department notifies the relevant authority that the claimant’s capital has been determined as being £16,000 or less;

(b) subsequent to that determination the claimant’s capital rises to more than £16,000; and

(c) the increase occurs whilst there is in force an assessed income period within the meaning of sections 6 and 9 of the State Pension Credit Act.