The Benefit Cap (Annual Limit) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023

Citation and commencement

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Benefit Cap (Annual Limit) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023.

(2) These Regulations come into operation on 1st April 2023.

(3) The amendments made by regulations 2 and 3 apply in relation to an award of universal credit whenever made but only in relation to each assessment period(1) in respect of that award which begins on or after 10th April 2023.

(4) The amendments made by regulations 2 and 4 apply only on and after 3rd April 2023 in relation to housing benefit in respect of rent payable at intervals of a week or any multiple of a week.

(5) In this regulation “housing benefit” means housing benefit under the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(2).

Amendment of the Welfare Reform Order

2.  In Article 101(5A) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (benefit cap)(3) for “£20,000 or £13,400” substitute “£22,020 or £14,753”.

Amendment of the Universal Credit Regulations

3.  In regulation 80A(2) of the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (relevant amount)(4)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (a) for “£13,400” substitute “£14,753”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (b) for “£20,000” substitute “£22,020”.

Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations

4.  In regulation 73CA(2) of the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (determination of the relevant amount)(5)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (a) for “£13,400” substitute “£14,753”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (b) for “£20,000” substitute “£22,020”.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 16th March 2023.

(L.S.)

Anne McCleary

A senior officer of the Department for Communities