7.—(1) This paragraph applies where all of the following conditions are met.
(2) The first condition is that in any assessment period the claimant—
(a)has an award of universal credit which includes an amount under Schedule 4 (housing costs element for renters) to the Universal Credit Regulations; or
(b)occupies exempt accommodation and has an award of housing benefit under section 130 (housing benefit) of the Contributions and Benefits Act M1.
(3) The second condition is that the claimant is in debt for any—
(a)rent payments;
(b)service charges which are paid with or as part of the claimant's rent.
(4) The third condition is that the claimant occupies the accommodation to which the debt relates.
(5) Where this paragraph applies, but subject to sub-paragraphs (6) and (7), the Secretary of State may, in such cases and circumstances as the Secretary of State may determine, deduct in relation to that assessment period an amount from the claimant's award [F1which is no less than 10% and no more than 20%] of the standard allowance and pay that amount to the person to whom the debt is owed.
(6) Before the Secretary of State may commence (or re-commence) making deductions in respect of such a debt, the claimant's earned income (or in the case of joint claimants their combined earned income) in relation to the previous assessment period must not exceed the work allowance.
(7) The Secretary of State must stop making such deductions if, in relation to the three assessment periods immediately preceding the date on which the next deduction could otherwise be made, the claimant's earned income (or in the case of joint claimants their combined earned income) equals or exceeds the work allowance.
(8) In this paragraph—
“exempt accommodation” has the meaning given by paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 (interpretation) to the Universal Credit Regulations;
“rent payments” includes any elements included in the claimant's rent which would not fall to be treated as rent under the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 M2 or as rent payments under the Universal Credit Regulations;
“service charges” includes any items in a charge for services in respect of the accommodation occupied by the claimant which would not fall to be treated as service charges under the Universal Credit Regulations.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in Sch. 6 para. 7(5) substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the commencing S.I.) by The Universal Credit and Miscellaneous Amendments (No.2) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/2888), regs. 1(1), 6(2)(c)
Marginal Citations
M11992 c.4. Section 130 was amended by paragraph 3 of Schedule 9 to the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c.14) and paragraph 1(1) and (3) of Schedule 5 to the Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c.5).