2007 No. 1632
SOCIAL SECURITY

The Social Security (Students and Income-related Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2007

Made
Laid before Parliament
Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1
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), 137(1) and 175(1), (3) and (4) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 19921 and sections 12(1) and (4)(b), 35(1) and 36(2) and (4) of the Jobseekers Act 19952.
In respect of the provisions in these Regulations relating to housing benefit and council tax benefit, the Secretary of State has consulted the organisations appearing to him to be representative of the authorities concerned3.
The Social Security Advisory Committee has agreed that the proposals in respect of these Regulations should not be referred to it4.

Citation, commencement and interpretation1.

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Students and Income-related Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2007.

(2)

This regulation shall come into force on 1st August 2007.

(3)

Regulations 2 to 5 shall come into force—

(a)

in the case of a person whose period of study begins on or after 1st August 2007 but before 1st September 2007, on the day the period of study begins; and

(b)

in any other case, on 1st September 2007.

(4)

In paragraph (3), “period of study” has the same meaning as in regulation 61 of the Income Support (General) Regulations 19875.

Amendment of the Income Support Regulations2.

(1)

The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 62(2A)6 (calculation of grant income)—

(a)

in sub-paragraph (a), for “£285” substitute “£290 per academic year”;

(b)

in sub-paragraph (b), for “£361” substitute “£370 per academic year”.

(3)

In regulation 66A(5)7 (treatment of student loans)—

(a)

in sub-paragraph (a), for “£285” substitute “£290 per academic year”;

(b)

in sub-paragraph (b) for “£361” substitute “£370 per academic year”.

Amendment of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations3.

(1)

The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 19968 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 131(3)9 (calculation of grant income)—

(a)

in sub-paragraph (a), for “£285” substitute “£290 per academic year”;

(b)

in sub-paragraph (b), for “£361” substitute “£370 per academic year”.

(3)

In regulation 136(5)10 (treatment of student loans)—

(a)

in sub-paragraph (a), for “£285” substitute “£290” per academic year”;

(b)

in sub-paragraph (b), for “£361” substitute “£370 per academic year”.

Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations4.

(1)

The Housing Benefit Regulations 200611 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 59(3)12 (calculation of grant income)—

(a)

in sub-paragraph (a), for “£285” substitute “£290 per academic year”;

(b)

in sub-paragraph (b), for “£361” substitute “£370 per academic year”.

(3)

In regulation 64(5)13 (treatment of student loans)—

(a)

in sub-paragraph (a), for “£285” substitute “£290 per academic year”;

(b)

in sub-paragraph (b), for “£361” substitute “£370 per academic year”.

Amendment of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations5.

(1)

The Council Tax Benefit Regulations 200614 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 46(3)15 (calculation of grant income)—

(a)

in sub-paragraph (a), for “£285” substitute “£290 per academic year”;

(b)

in sub-paragraph (b), for “£361” substitute “£370 per academic year”.

(3)

In regulation 51(5)16 (treatment of student loans)—

(a)

in sub-paragraph (a), for “£285” substitute “£290” per academic year;

(b)

in sub-paragraph (b), for “£361” substitute “£370 per academic year”.

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

James Plaskitt
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,
Department for Work and Pensions
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1967), the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/207), the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/213) and the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/215) in so far as they relate to students and sums to be disregarded in the calculation of their entitlement to benefit.

The amendments increase the amounts of grant and loan income to be disregarded in respect of travel costs and the costs of books and equipment. They also clarify that the disregards apply only once in every academic year.

A regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business.