The Social Security (Information-sharing in relation to Welfare Services etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Information-sharing in relation to Welfare Services etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 and come into force on 13th February 2015.

Amendments to the Social Security (Information-sharing in relation to Welfare Services etc.) Regulations 2012

2.—(1) The Social Security (Information-sharing in relation to Welfare Services etc.) Regulations 2012(1) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation)—

(a) for the definition of “social landlord”, substitute—

““social landlord” means—

(a)

in a case to which the Housing Benefit Regulations apply, a landlord falling within regulation 13C(5)(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) of those Regulations;

(b)

in a case to which the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations apply, a landlord falling within regulation 13C(5)(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) of those Regulations;

(c)

in a case to which the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 apply, a provider of social housing within the definition given in paragraph 2 of Schedule 4 (housing costs element for renters) to those Regulations;”;

(b) after the definition of “universal credit”(2), insert—

““universal credit claimant” means a person who has made a claim for or has an award of universal credit;

“universal support initiative” means any initiative under which advice, assistance or support is provided by the Secretary of State or any qualifying persons listed in regulation 10(1)(e) to a universal credit claimant for the purposes of assisting them with—

(a)

managing their claim for or award of universal credit, including accessing and using online services, or

(b)

managing their financial affairs.”.

(3) In regulation 5 (supply of relevant information by the Secretary of State)—

(a) after paragraph (1)(f)(3), insert—

“(g) where the qualifying person is a social landlord and the relevant information is limited to information referred to in paragraph (3A), determining whether a universal credit claimant, whose award includes or is likely to include a housing costs element in respect of accommodation provided by that social landlord, needs advice, assistance or support in relation to managing their financial affairs;

(h) where the qualifying person is listed in regulation 10(1)(e) and the Secretary of State or any qualifying person listed in regulation 10(1)(e) determines that a universal credit claimant needs advice, assistance or support under a universal support initiative—

(i) providing such advice, assistance or support to that person; and

(ii) monitoring and evaluating the provision of such advice, assistance or support. ”;

(b) after paragraph (3), insert—

“(3A) The information referred to in paragraph (1)(g) is information confirming—

(a) the identity of the universal credit claimant;

(b) that the universal credit claimant has a tenancy with the social landlord;

(c) the date on which the universal credit claimant made a claim for or was awarded universal credit; or

(d) in a case where universal credit has been awarded to the universal credit claimant—

(i) the date on which the next payment of universal credit is due to be paid;

(ii) whether the next payment is the first payment under the award; or

(iii) the amount of housing costs element in the next payment under the award.”;

(c) after paragraph (4)(d), insert—

“(e) “housing costs element” means an amount in respect of housing costs which is included in an award of universal credit under section 11 of the 2012 Act.”.

(4) After regulation 6(1)(p)(4) (holding purposes), insert—

“(q) where the qualifying person is listed in regulation 10(1)(e)—

(i) providing advice, assistance or support to a universal credit claimant under a universal support initiative; and

(ii) monitoring and evaluating the provision of such advice, assistance or support. ”.

(5) After regulation 9B(5) (using purposes connected with local welfare provision), insert—

“Using purposes connected with a universal support initiative

9C.— (1) This regulation applies to relevant information held by a qualifying person listed in regulation 10(1)(e) for the purposes listed in regulation 6(1)(q).

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

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

(b) under section 131(3)(b) of the 2012 Act as purposes 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) providing advice, assistance or support to a universal credit claimant under a universal support initiative; and

(b) monitoring and evaluating the provision of such advice, assistance or support.

(4) This regulation permits relevant information to be supplied to another qualifying person only where that other qualifying person is listed in regulation 10(1)(e).”.

(6) In regulation 10(6) (qualifying persons)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(a), after “regulations” insert “5(1)(g),”;

(b) after regulation 10(1)(d), insert—

“(e) for the purposes of regulations 5(1)(h), 6(1)(q), 9C, 16(d) and 17(3)(c)—

(i) a person listed in section 131(11)(a), (b) or (c) of the 2012 Act,

(ii) a member of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux(7) or the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux(8),

(iii) a credit union within section 1 of the Credit Unions Act 1979(9),

(iv) a social landlord,

(v) a charity entered in the register of charities maintained under Part 4 of the Charities Act 2011(10) or a body entered on the register of charities maintained under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005(11).”.

(7) After regulation 16(c)(12) (holding purposes), insert—

“(d) where the qualifying person is listed in regulation 10(1)(e)—

(i) providing advice, assistance or support to a universal credit claimant under a universal support initiative; and

(ii) monitoring and evaluating the provision of such advice, assistance or support. ”.

(8) After regulation 17(3)(b)(13) (prescribed purposes relating to a relevant social security benefit), insert—

“(c) in relation to either of the purposes prescribed in regulation 16(d)—

(i) providing advice, assistance or support to a universal credit claimant under a universal support initiative; and

(ii) monitoring and evaluating the provision of such advice, assistance or support. ”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Freud

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department for Work and Pensions

21st January 2015