These Regulations further amend the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987.

Regulation 2 provides that students who were engaged in caring for another person or who were ill and who were unable to resume their course will not be subject to a reduction in their eligible rent for the purpose of determining their entitlement to housing benefit for the period before they resume their course.

The Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Social Security in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

These Regulations do not impose any charge on business.