The Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Amendment Regulations 2013

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988/1724) (“the principal Regulations”).

Regulation 2(2) and (3) ensure that persons in receipt of universal credit may be entitled to a cold weather payment.

Regulation 2(4) and (5) make further amendments to ensure that the principal Regulations apply correctly in relation to the entitlement to cold weather payments of those who are in receipt of universal credit.

Regulation 2(6) provides that there is no entitlement to a cold weather payment where a person in receipt of universal credit has been in employment or gainful self-employment for any of the days during a seven day recorded period of cold weather, or where the period of cold weather is forecasted, on the day when the Meteorological Office supplies the Department for Work and Pensions with the forecast. There is an exception where the claimant is in receipt of an additional amount of universal credit in respect of a disabled child or qualifying young person.

A full impact assessment has not been published for this instrument as it has no impact on the private sector or civil society organisations.