The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Default Scheme) (England) Regulations 2012

Diminishing notional capital rule: pensioners

68.—(1) Where an applicant who is a pensioner is treated as possessing capital under paragraph 67(1) (notional capital), the amount which he is treated as possessing—

(a) in the case of a week that is subsequent to—

(i) the relevant week in respect of which the conditions set out in sub-paragraph (2) are satisfied; or

(ii) a week which follows that relevant week and which satisfies those conditions,

is to be reduced by an amount determined under sub-paragraph (3);

(b) in the case of a week in respect of which sub-paragraph (1)(a) does not apply but where—

(i) that week is a week subsequent to the relevant week; and

(ii) that relevant week is a week in which the condition in sub-paragraph (4) is satisfied,

is to be reduced by the amount determined under sub-paragraph (5).

(2) This sub-paragraph applies to a reduction week where the applicant satisfies the conditions that—

(a) he is in receipt of a reduction under this scheme; and

(b) but for paragraph 67(1), he would have received a greater reduction in council tax under this scheme in that week.

(3) In a case to which sub-paragraph (2) applies, the amount of the reduction in the amount of capital he is treated as possessing for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(a) must be equal to the aggregate of—

(a) an amount equal to the additional amount of the reduction in council tax to which sub-paragraph (2)(b) refers;

(b) where the applicant has also claimed state pension credit, the amount of any state pension credit or any additional amount of state pension credit to which he would have been entitled in respect of the reduction week to which sub-paragraph (2) refers but for the application of regulation 21(1) of the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 (notional capital);

(c) where the applicant has also claimed housing benefit, the amount of any housing benefit or any additional amount of housing benefit to which he would have been entitled in respect of the whole or part of the reduction week to which sub-paragraph (2) refers but for the application of regulation 47(1) of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 (notional capital);

(d) where the applicant has also claimed a jobseeker’s allowance, the amount of an income-based jobseeker’s allowance to which he would have been entitled in respect of the reduction week to which sub-paragraph (2) refers but for the application of regulation 113 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (notional capital); and

(e) where the applicant has also claimed an employment and support allowance, the amount of an income-related employment and support allowance to which he would have been entitled in respect of the reduction week to which sub-paragraph (2) refers but for the application of regulation 115 of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 (notional capital).

(4) Subject to sub-paragraph (7), for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b) the condition is that the applicant is a pensioner and would have been entitled to a reduction in council tax under this scheme in the relevant week but for paragraph 67(1).

(5) In such a case the amount of the reduction in the amount of capital he is treated as possessing for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b) is equal to the aggregate of—

(a) the amount of the reduction in council tax to which the applicant would have been entitled in the relevant week but for paragraph 67(1);

(b) if the applicant would, but for regulation 21 of the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002, have been entitled to state pension credit in respect of the benefit week, within the meaning of regulation 1(2) of those Regulations (interpretation), which includes the last day of the relevant week, the amount to which he would have been entitled;

(c) if the applicant would, but for regulation 47(1) of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006, have been entitled to housing benefit or to an additional amount of housing benefit in respect of the benefit week which includes the last day of the relevant week, the amount which is equal to—

(i) in a case where no housing benefit is payable, the amount to which he would have been entitled; or

(ii) in any other case, the amount equal to the additional amount of housing benefit to which he would have been entitled;

(d) if the applicant would, but for regulation 113 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996, have been entitled to an income-based jobseeker’s allowance in respect of the benefit week, within the meaning of regulation 1(3) of those Regulations (interpretation), which includes the last day of the relevant week, the amount to which he would have been entitled; and

(e) if the applicant would, but for regulation 115 of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008, have been entitled to an income-related employment and support allowance in respect of the benefit week, within the meaning of regulation 2(1) of those Regulations (interpretation), which includes the last day of the relevant week, the amount to which he would have been entitled.

(6) But if the amount mentioned in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of sub-paragraph (5) (“the relevant amount”) is in respect of a part-week, the amount that is to be taken into account under that paragraph is to be determined by—

(a) dividing the relevant amount by the number equal to the number of days in that part-week, and

(b) multiplying the result of that calculation by 7.

(7) The amount determined under sub-paragraph (5) is to be re-determined under that sub-paragraph if the applicant makes a further application and the conditions in sub-paragraph (8) are satisfied, and in such a case—

(a) paragraphs (a) to (e) of sub-paragraph (5) apply as if for the words “relevant week” there were substituted the words “relevant subsequent week”; and

(b) subject to sub-paragraph (9), the amount as re-determined has effect from the first week following the relevant subsequent week in question.

(8) The conditions are that—

(a) a further application is made 26 or more weeks after—

(i) the date on which the applicant made an application in respect of which he was first treated as possessing the capital in question under paragraph 67(1);

(ii) in a case where there has been at least one re-determination in accordance with sub-paragraph (11), the date on which he last made an application which resulted in the weekly amount being re-determined, or

(iii) the date on which he last ceased to be entitled to a reduction under this scheme,

whichever last occurred; and

(b) the applicant would have been entitled to a reduction under this scheme but for paragraph 67(1).

(9) The amount as re-determined pursuant to sub-paragraph (7) must not have effect if it is less than the amount which applied in that case immediately before the re-determination and in such a case the higher amount must continue to have effect.

(10) For the purposes of this paragraph—

“part-week”—

(a)

in relation to an amount mentioned in sub-paragraph (5)(a), means a period of less than a week for which a reduction in council tax under this scheme is allowed;

(b)

in relation to an amount mentioned in sub-paragraph (5)(b), means a period of less than a week for which housing benefit is payable;

(c)

in relation to an amount mentioned in sub-paragraph (5)(c), (d) or (e), means—

(i)

a period of less than a week which is the whole period for which income support, an income-related employment and support allowance or, as the case may be, an income-based jobseeker’s allowance is payable; and

(ii)

any other period of less than a week for which it is payable;

“relevant week” means the reduction week or part-week in which the capital in question of which the applicant has deprived himself within the meaning of paragraph 67(1)—

(a)

was first taken into account for the purpose of determining his entitlement to a reduction; or

(b)

was taken into account on a subsequent occasion for the purpose of determining or re-determining his entitlement to a reduction on that subsequent occasion and that determination or re-determination resulted in his beginning to receive, or ceasing to receive, a reduction;

and where more than one reduction week is identified by reference to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this definition, the later or latest such reduction week or, as the case may be, the later or latest such part-week is the relevant week;

“relevant subsequent week” means the reduction week or part-week which includes the day on which the further application or, if more than one further application has been made, the last such application was made.