The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Amendment Regulations 2020

Statutory Instruments

2020 No. 397

Social Security

The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Amendment Regulations 2020

Made

at 1.45 p.m. on 3rd April 2020

Laid before Parliament

at 3.00 p.m. on 3rd April 2020

Coming into force

6th April 2020

The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of powers conferred by section 122(1) and (6) of the Housing Act 1996(1) and sections 9(2) and 42(1) to (3) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012(2).

In accordance with section 173(1)(a) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992(3), it appears to the Secretary of State that by reason of the urgency of this matter it is inexpedient to refer the proposals in respect of these Regulations to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Amendment Regulations 2020 and come into force on 6th April 2020.

Universal credit – standard allowance and local housing allowance modifications

2.—(1) In Regulation 3(2) of the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations 2020(4) (universal credit – standard allowance modification), for “from the day specified in article 1(3)(o) of the 2020 up-rating order” substitute “in the first assessment period that ends on or after 6th April 2020”.

(2) In relation to any determination of local housing allowance made on 31st March 2020 in accordance with paragraph (1) of article 4 of the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013(5) (local housing allowance determinations), that article has effect as if—

(a) for paragraph (3) of that article there were substituted—

“(3) Any local housing allowance determination made in accordance with paragraph (1) on 31st March 2020 is to take effect—

(a) in the case of a person who is entitled to universal credit on 6th April 2020, in the first assessment period that ends on or after 6th April 2020; and

(b) in any other case, on 6th April 2020.”; and

(b) in paragraph (4) of that article, the definitions of “a person with an existing UC entitlement” and “tax year” were omitted.

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

Will Quince

Minister for Welfare Delivery

Department for Work and Pensions

At 1.45 p.m. on 3rd April 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend regulation 3 (universal credit - standard allowance modification) of the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/371). By virtue of that amendment the modified rates specified in that regulation are to take effect in relation to each award of universal credit in the first assessment period that ends on or after 6th April 2020.

These Regulations also modify the effect of the amendments made by regulation 4 (local housing allowance) of the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations 2020, so that determinations of local housing allowance made on 31st March 2020 under article 4 of the Rent Officers (Universal Credit Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/382) take effect in the first assessment period that ends on or after 6th April 2020.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, public or voluntary sectors is foreseen.

(1)

1996 c. 52. Section 122(1) was amended by paragraph 36 of Schedule 2 to the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5). There are other amendments but none of them is relevant.

(2)

2012 c. 5.

(3)

1992 c. 5.

(4)

S.I. 2020/371.

(5)

S.I. 2013/382. Paragraph (2) of article 4 was amended by S.I. 2020/371 to insert a reference to 31st March 2020 as a date on which determinations were to be made under paragraph (1). Paragraphs (3) and (4) of article 4 were substituted by S.I. 2015/1753.