The Income-related Benefits (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2005
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 123(1)(a), (d) and (e), 136(3) and (5)(b), 136A(3), 137(1), 138(1)(a) and (4) and 175(1), (3) and (4) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 M1, sections 12(1) and (4)(b), 35(1) and 36(2) and (4)(a) of the Jobseekers Act 1995 M2, section 29 and paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 to the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 M3 and sections 15(6)(b) and 17(1) of the State Pension Credit Act 2002 M4.
The Social Security Advisory Committee has agreed that proposals in respect of these Regulations should not be referred to it M5.
The Secretary of State considers that, because of the urgency of the matter, it is inexpedient to consult, in respect of provisions in these Regulations relating to housing benefit and council tax benefit, with organisations appearing to him to be representative of the authorities concerned M6:
Citation and commencement1.
These Regulations may be cited as the Income-related Benefits (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2005 and shall come into force on 12th December 2005.
Amendments of the Income Support (General) Regulations 19872.
(1)
The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 M7 are amended as follows.
(2)
In regulation 2(1) (interpretation)—
(a)
““the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund” means the company limited by guarantee (number 5505072) and registered charity of that name established on 11th July 2005 for the purpose of (amongst other things) relieving sickness, disability or financial need of victims (including families or dependants of victims) of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005;”;
(b)
in the definition of “qualifying person”M8 for the words “or the Skipton Fund” substitute “
, the Skipton Fund or the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund
”
.
(3)
In regulation 51(3A)(a)
(notional capital) M9 for the words “or the Skipton Fund” substitute “
, the Skipton Fund or the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund
”
.
(4)
In paragraph 39(7) of Schedule 9 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) M10 for the words “and the Skipton Fund” substitute “
, the Skipton Fund and the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund
”
.
(5)
In Schedule 10 (capital to be disregarded)—
(a)
in paragraph 22 M11—
(i)
in sub-paragraph (1) for the words “or the Skipton Fund” substitute “
, the Skipton Fund or the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund
”
;
(ii)
in sub-paragraph (7) for the words “and the Skipton Fund” substitute “
, the Skipton Fund and the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund
”
;
(b)
omit paragraph 22A M12.
Amendments of the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987F13.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amendments of the Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992F14.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amendments of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 19965.
(1)
The Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996 M13 are amended as follows.
(2)
In regulation 1(3) (citation, commencement and interpretation)—
(a)
““the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund” means the company limited by guarantee (number 5505072) and registered charity of that name established on 11th July 2005 for the purpose of (amongst other things) relieving sickness, disability or financial need of victims (including families or dependants of victims) of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005;”;
(b)
in the definition of “qualifying person”M14 for the words “or the Skipton Fund” substitute “
, the Skipton Fund or the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund
”
.
(3)
In regulation 113(3A)(a)
(notional capital) M15 for the words “or the Skipton Fund” substitute “
, the Skipton Fund or the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund
”
.
(4)
At the end of paragraph 41(7) of Schedule 7 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) M16 add “
and the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund
”
.
(5)
In Schedule 8 (capital to be disregarded)—
(a)
in paragraph 27(1) M17 after the words “Skipton Fund” insert “
, the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund
”
;
(b)
omit paragraph 27A M18.
Amendments of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Regulations 19976.
(1)
The Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Regulations 1997 M19 are amended as follows.
(2)
“(k)
any payment made from the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund, the company limited by guarantee (number 5505072) and registered charity of that name established on 11th July 2005 for the purpose of (amongst other things) relieving sickness, disability or financial need of victims (including families or dependants of victims) of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005.”.
Amendments of the State Pension Credit Regulations 20027.
(1)
The State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 M21 are amended as follows.
(2)
In regulation 1(2) (citation, commencement and interpretation)—
(a)
““the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund” means the company limited by guarantee (number 5505072) and registered charity of that name established on 11th July 2005 for the purpose of (amongst other things) relieving sickness, disability or financial need of victims (including families or dependants of victims) of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005;”;
(b)
in the definition of “qualifying person”M22 for the words “or the Skipton Fund” substitute “
, the Skipton Fund or the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund
”
.
(3)
In Schedule 5 (income from capital)—
(a)
in paragraph 15 M23—
(i)
in sub-paragraph (1) for the words “or the Skipton Fund” substitute “
, the Skipton Fund or the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund
”
;
(ii)
in sub-paragraph (7) for the words “and the Skipton Fund” substitute “
, the Skipton Fund and the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund
”
;
(b)
omit paragraph 15A M24.
Amendments of the Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Regulations 20058.
(1)
The Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Regulations 2005 M25 are amended as follows.
(2)
In regulation 10 (deductions from an award of a funeral payment)—
(a)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in sub-paragraph (f) omit “or”;
(ii)
“or
(h)
the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund,”;
(b)
in paragraph (3) for the words “and “the Skipton Fund”” substitute “
, “the Skipton Fund” and “the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund”
.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
Regulations 1 to 5 amend the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987, the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987, the Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992 and the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996 to make provision in each set of Regulations for grants paid by the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund (“the Fund”), and certain payments derived from these grants, to be disregarded when calculating that person's capital or income for the purpose of an award of benefit.
Regulation 7 also amends the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 to provide for grants paid by the Fund to a person, and certain payments derived from these grants, to be disregarded when calculating that person's income from capital for the purpose of an award of state pension credit.
These Regulations revoke the previous disregards that applied in respect of payments from the Fund.
In relation to housing benefit and council tax benefit, regulations 3(4) and 4(4) provide that a person is not required to furnish any evidence and information about a payment from the Fund when making a claim or in connection with an award.
Regulation 6 amends regulation 2(2) of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Regulations 1997 to include an exemption for payments made from the Fund from the compensation recovery scheme.
Regulation 8 amends regulation 10 of the Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Regulations 2005 to ensure that payments from the Fund are not deducted in calculating the amount of a funeral payment.
A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the cost of business.