The Social Security (Information-sharing in relation to Welfare Services etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

• “council tax reduction scheme”—

  1. a

     in England and Wales, has the meaning given in section 13A(9) of the Local Government Finance Act 19923 and (in England) includes a default scheme within the meaning of paragraph 4 of Schedule 1A to that Act; and

  2. b

     in Scotland, means a means-tested reduction to an individual’s council tax liability in accordance with the Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Regulations 20124 or the Council Tax Reduction (State Pension Credit) (Scotland) Regulations  20125;

PART 4INFORMATION-SHARING IN RELATION TO COUNCIL TAX UNDER SECTIONS 131 TO 133 OF THE 2012 ACT

Supply of relevant information by the Secretary of State12

The purposes prescribed under section 131(1) of the 2012 Act in relation to council tax (purposes for which the Secretary of State or a person providing services to the Secretary of State may supply relevant information to a qualifying person) are—

a

making a council tax reduction scheme;

b

determining a person’s entitlement or continued entitlement to a reduction under a council tax reduction scheme.

Holding purposes13

The purposes prescribed under section 131(3) of the 2012 Act in relation to council tax as purposes for which relevant information must be held by a qualifying person in order for them to use or supply it as set out in that subsection, are—

a

making a council tax reduction scheme;

b

determining a person’s entitlement or continued entitlement to a reduction under a council tax reduction scheme.

Using purposes14

1

This regulation applies to relevant information held by a qualifying person for any purpose listed in regulation 12.

2

The purposes set out in paragraph (3) are prescribed—

a

under section 131(3)(a) of the 2012 Act as a purpose for which the information may by used by that qualifying person; and

b

subject to regulation 16, under section 131(3)(b) of the 2012 Act as a purpose for use in relation to which the information may be supplied by that qualifying person to another qualifying person.

3

The purposes are any purposes connected with—

a

making a council tax reduction scheme;

b

determining a person’s entitlement or continued entitlement to a reduction under a council tax reduction scheme.

Excepted matters15

1

Subject to paragraph (2), regulation 14 does not permit relevant information held by a Welsh body or a Scottish body to be supplied by that body to another qualifying person for use in relation to that purpose.

2

Paragraph (1) does not apply if the information was supplied by, or is derived from, information supplied to another person by the Secretary of State (or a person providing services to the Secretary of State) or a person engaged in the administration of housing benefit.