The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Limitations applicable to deductions made under this Schedule

3.—(1) The Department may not deduct an amount from a claimant’s award of universal credit under this Schedule and pay that amount to a third party if, in relation to any assessment period, that would—

(a) reduce the amount payable to the claimant to less than one penny; or

(b) result in more than three deductions being made, in relation to that assessment period, under one or more of the provisions mentioned in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) The provisions are—

(a) paragraph 6 (housing costs);

(b) paragraph 7 (rent and service charges included in rent);

(c) paragraph 8 (fuel costs);

(d) paragraph 9 (rates);

(e) paragraph 10 (water charges);

(f) paragraph 11 (payments in place of payments of child support maintenance);

(g) paragraph 12 (integration loans).

(3) The aggregate amount deducted from a claimant’s award of universal credit in relation to any assessment period and paid to a third party under paragraphs 8 and 10 must not, without the claimant’s consent, exceed the sum equal to 25 per cent. of the aggregate of the standard allowance and any child element.