The Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations consolidate existing provisions relating to housing benefit for claimants who have not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit and for those who have attained that age and are receiving, or whose partner is receiving, income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance. In the case of a woman the qualifying age for state pension credit is pensionable age and in the case of a man it is the age which is pensionable age in the case of a woman born on the same day as the man (section 1(6) of the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002). Provisions relating to those claimants who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit other than those who are, or whose partner is, receiving income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance are contained in the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006.

Part I of the Regulations contains general provisions. These Regulations are to be read, where appropriate, with the Housing Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (“the Consequential Provisions Regulations”).

Part II makes provision in relation to the circumstances in which a person is or is not to be treated as occupying a dwelling as his home and is or is not to be treated as liable to make payments for a dwelling.

Part III specifies those payments by way of rent or rates which are to be eligible for the payment of housing benefit and for decisions by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in rent allowance cases.

Part IV specifies the circumstances in which a person is or is not to be treated as responsible for another person and who is to be treated as a member of the same household as a claimant for housing benefit.

Part V and Schedule 4 provide for the calculation of the applicable amount in respect of a person’s entitlement to housing benefit, by reference to which the amount of his benefit is calculated. Provision is made with respect to polygamous marriages.

Part VI provides for the calculation of the income and capital of a claimant for housing benefit, the earnings of employed and self-employed earners, the treatment of income other than earnings including notional income, with the sums to be disregarded set out in Schedules 5 and 6. Calculation of capital is also dealt with, with capital to be disregarded set out in Schedule 7.

Part VII provides for the treatment of students, their entitlement to housing benefit and the calculation of their income.

Part VIII provides for the maximum amount of housing benefit payable and for the housing benefit taper, extended payments and non-dependant deductions.

Part IX contains provisions as to when housing benefit is to begin, together with provisions relating to change of circumstances and the date those changes take effect.

Part X provides for the making, amendment and withdrawal of claims, the evidence and information required in connection with claims and the duty to notify changes of circumstances.

Part XI provides for the determination of questions arising on claims and the notification of decisions by authorities.

Part XII provides for the payment of housing benefit, including to whom payments are to be made and the withholding of benefit.

Part XIII provides for the recovery of overpaid housing benefit, what constitutes a recoverable overpayment and the method of recovery.

Part XIV provides that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive may require certain landlords and their agents to supply relevant information .

These Regulations are to be read, where appropriate, with the Consequential Provisions Regulations, which revoke the Regulations consolidated by these Regulations. The Regulations are made for the purpose only of consolidating other regulations revoked by them and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 9 of Schedule 5 to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.