The State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Excessive housing costs

10.  –

(1) Housing costs which, apart from this paragraph, fall to be met under this Schedule shall be met only to the extent specified in sub-paragraph (3) where –

(a) the dwelling occupied as the home, excluding any part which is let, is larger than is required by the claimant, his partner (if he has one), any person under the age of 19 and any other non-dependants having regard, in particular, to suitable alternative accommodation occupied by a household of the same size;

(b) the immediate area in which the dwelling occupied as the home is located is more expensive than other areas in which suitable alternative accommodation exists, or

(c) the outgoings of the dwelling occupied as the home which are met under paragraphs 11 to 13 are higher than the outgoings of suitable alternative accommodation in the area.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), no regard shall be had to the capital value of the dwelling occupied as the home.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraphs (4) to (10), the amount of the loan which falls to be met shall be restricted and the excess over the amounts which the claimant would need to obtain suitable alternative accommodation shall not be allowed.

(4) Where, having regard to the relevant factors, it is not reasonable to expect the claimant and his partner to seek alternative cheaper accommodation, no restriction shall be made under sub-paragraph (3).

(5) In sub-paragraph (4) “the relevant factors” are –

(a) the availability of suitable accommodation and the level of housing costs in the area, and

(b) the circumstances of the claimant and those who live with him, including in particular the age and state of health of any of those persons, the employment prospects of the claimant and, where a change in accommodation is likely to result in a change of school, the effect on the education of any person below the age of 19 who lives with the claimant.

(6) Where sub-paragraph (4) does not apply and the claimant or his partner was able to meet the financial commitments for the dwelling occupied as the home when these were entered into, no restriction shall be made under this paragraph during the first 26 weeks of any period of entitlement to state pension credit nor during the next 26 weeks if and so long as the claimant uses his best endeavours to obtain cheaper accommodation or, as the case may be, no restriction shall be made under this paragraph on review during the 26 weeks from the date of the review nor during the next 26 weeks if and so long as the claimant uses his best endeavours.

(7) For the purposes of calculating any period of 26 weeks referred to in sub-paragraph (6), and for those purposes only, a person shall be treated as entitled to state pension credit for any period of 12 weeks or less in respect of which he was not in receipt of state pension credit and which fell immediately between periods in respect of which he was in receipt thereof.

(8) Any period in respect of which –

(a) state pension credit was paid to a person, and

(b) it was subsequently determined that he was not entitled to state pension credit for that period,

shall be treated for the purposes of sub-paragraph (7) as a period in respect of which he was not in receipt of state pension credit.

(9) Any period which falls before the appointed day in respect of which a person was entitled to income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance shall be treated, for the purpose of calculating any period of 26 weeks or as the case may be 12 weeks mentioned in sub-paragraphs (6) and (7), as a period in respect of which he was entitled to state pension credit.

(10) References to state pension credit in sub-paragraphs (6) and (7) shall be treated as including references to income support and income-based jobseeker’s allowance in respect of any period which falls immediately before –

(a) the appointed day, or

(b) the day the claimant or his partner attains the qualifying age.