PART 6Income and capital

CHAPTER 2Income and capital

Calculation of weekly income

31.—(1) Except where paragraphs (2) and (4) apply, for the purposes of calculating the weekly income of the applicant, where the period in respect of which a payment of income is made—

(a)does not exceed a week, the whole of that payment is to be included in the applicant’s weekly income; and

(b)exceeds a week, the weekly amount is to be determined—

(i)in a case where that period is a month, by multiplying the amount of the payment by 12 and dividing the product by 52;

(ii)in a case where that period is 3 months, by multiplying the amount of the payment by 4 and dividing the product by 52;

(iii)in a case where that period is a year, by dividing the amount of the payment by 52; and

(iv)in any other case, by multiplying the amount of the payment by 7 and dividing the product by the number of days in the period in respect of which it is made.

(2) The weekly amount of the applicant’s income is to be determined—

(a)where the applicant’s regular pattern of work is such that the applicant does not work the same hours every week and there is a recognised cycle of work, by reference to the applicant’s average weekly income over the period of the complete cycle (including, where the cycle involves periods in which the applicant does no work, those periods but disregarding any other absences); or

(b)if the applicant’s income fluctuates and has changed more than once, on the basis of—

(i)the last two payments if those payments are one month or more apart;

(ii)the last 4 payments if the last two payments are less than one month apart; or

(iii)calculating or estimating any other payments that may, in the particular circumstances of the case, enable the applicant’s average weekly income to be determined more accurately.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b) the last payments are the last payments before the date the application was made or treated as made or, if there is a subsequent supersession under paragraph 4 of Schedule 7 to the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000(1), the last payments before the date of the supersession.

(4) If an applicant is entitled to receive a payment to which paragraph (5) applies, the amount of that payment is to be treated as if made in respect of a period of a year.

(5) This paragraph applies to—

(a)royalties or other sums paid as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright, design, patent or trade mark;

(b)any payment in respect of any—

(i)book registered under the Public Lending Right Scheme 1982(2); or

(ii)work made under any international public lending right scheme that is analogous to the Public Lending Right Scheme 1982; and

(c)any payment made on an occasional basis.

(6) The period under which any benefit under the benefit Acts is to be taken into account is the period in respect of which that benefit is payable.

(7) Where payments are made in a currency other than sterling, the value of the payment is to be determined by taking the sterling equivalent on the date the payment is made.

(8) The sums specified in Schedule 2 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings) must be disregarded when calculating—

(a)the applicant’s earnings; and

(b)any amount to which paragraph (5) applies where the applicant is the first owner of the copyright, design, patent or trademark or an original contributor to a book or work referred to in paragraph (5)(b).

(9) For the purposes of paragraph (8)(b) only, the amounts specified in paragraph (5) are to be treated as though they were earnings.

(10) Income specified in Schedule 3 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) is to be disregarded in the calculation of an applicant’s income.

(11) Schedule 4 (capital disregards) has effect so that—

(a)the capital specified in Part 1 must be disregarded for the purpose of determining an applicant’s income; and

(b)the capital specified in Part 2 must be disregarded for the purpose of determining an applicant’s income under regulation 27(2) (meaning of “income”: deemed income”).

(12) In the case of any income taken into account for the purpose of calculating a person’s income, any amount payable by way of tax must be disregarded.