The Rate Relief (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

Calculation of weekly amount of rate relief

23.—(1) For the purposes of Article 30A of the principal Order the amount of a person’s rate relief in any rate relief week shall be calculated by applying the formula (“the rate relief formula”)—

where—

• M is the weekly amount of maximum rate relief;

• E is 12 per cent of the weekly amount of excess of income;

• HB is the weekly amount of housing benefit entitlement;

• RR is the weekly amount of rate relief entitlement.

(2) In this regulation—

“applicable amount” means the applicable amount as calculated under Part 5 (applicable amounts);

“excess of income” means the resultant figure after the deduction of a person’s income from his applicable amount;

“housing benefit entitlement” means that amount of housing benefit determined in accordance with Part VIII of the Housing Benefit Regulations but only in so far as it relates to a rate rebate, or as the case may be, an amount equivalent to the amount of notional entitlement as calculated under regulation 20 (notional entitlement to housing benefit); arrears of housing benefit shall be disregarded in full for the purposes of these Regulations;

“income” means income as calculated under Part 6 (income and capital);

“maximum rate relief” means the maximum rate relief amount as calculated under regulation 22(1)(e) (maximum rate relief).

(3) Where the result of the rate relief formula is zero or a negative amount there shall be no entitlement to a payment of rate relief.