[F1(1)In determining whether to make an award [F2of a community care grant or a crisis loan] to the applicant or the amount or value to be awarded [F3an appropriate officer] shall have regard, subject to subsection (2) below, to all the circumstances of the case and, in particular—
(a)the nature, extent and urgency of the need;
(b)the existence of resources from which the need may be met;
(c)the possibility that some other person or body may wholly or partly meet it;
(d)where the payment is repayable, the likelihood of repayment and the time within which repayment is likely;
(e)any relevant allocation under section 147(1) to (4) of the Administration Act.
[F4(1A)Subject to subsection (2) below, in determining whether to make an award of a budgeting loan to the applicant, or the amount or value to be awarded, an appropriate officer shall have regard to—
(a)such of the applicant’s personal circumstances as are of a description specified in directions issued by the Department; and
(b)the criteria specified in paragraphs [F5(b), (d) and (e)] of subsection (1) above,
F6... ]
(2)[F7An appropriate officer] shall determine any question in accordance with any general directions issued by the Department and in determining any question shall take account of any general guidance issued by the Department.
[F8(3)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2) above, the Department may issue directions under that subsection for the purpose of securing that allocations under section 147 of the Administration Act are not exceeded.]
(4)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2) above, the power to issue general directions conferred on the Department by that subsection includes power to direct—
(a)that in circumstances specified in the direction [F9an appropriate officer] shall not determine an application and, without prejudice to the generality of this paragraph, that [F9an appropriate officer] shall not determine an application which is made before the end of a specified period after the making of an application by the same person for a payment such as is mentioned in section 134(1)(b) above to meet the same need and without there having been any relevant change of circumstances since the previous application;
[F10(aa)that in circumstances specified in the direction an application for an award of a community care grant may be treated as an application for an award of a crisis loan, and vice versa;]
(b)that for a category of need specified in the direction [F9an appropriate officer] shall not award less than an amount specified in the direction;
(c)that for a category of need specified in the direction [F9an appropriate officer] shall not award more than an amount so specified;
(d)that payments to meet a category of need specified in the direction shall in all cases or in no case be made by instalments;
[F11(da)that the amount or value of a budgeting loan is not to exceed a sum specified or determined as specified in the direction;]
F12(e). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(f)that a payment such as is mentioned in section 134(1)(b) above shall only be awarded to a person if either—
(i)he is in receipt of a benefit which is specified in the direction and the circumstances are such as are so specified; or
(ii)in a case where the conditions specified in sub-paragraph (i) above are not satisfied, the circumstances are such as are specified in the direction,
and the power to issue general guidance conferred on the Department by that subsection includes power to give [F13appropriate officers] guidance as to any matter to which directions under that subsection may relate.
[F14(4ZA)A direction under subsection (4)(da) may require the sum to be determined by applying, or by a method that includes applying, a multiplier specified in the direction in circumstances specified in the direction to the most recent relevant sum published by the Department.
(4ZB)A relevant sum is a sum determined from time to time by reference to so much of any relevant allocation under section 147(1) to (4) of the Administration Act as is available for making payments.]
(5)In determining a question [F15an appropriate officer]shall take account (subject to any directions or guidance issued by the Department under this section) of any guidance issued by [F16the appropriate officer nominated for his area under Article 36 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998].]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 136 repealed (28.11.2016 in so far as relates to a community care grant or a crisis loan) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), art. 2(2), Sch. 12 Pt. 7; S.R. 2016/411, art. 2(3)(a) (with art. 4)
F2Words in s. 136(1) inserted (5.4.1999) by S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10), art. 67(1); S.R. 1999/168, art. 2(a)
F3Words in s. 136(1) substituted (29.11.1999) by S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10), art. 78(1), Sch. 6 para. 54(1); S.R. 1999/472, art. 2(1)(a), Sch. 1
F4S. 136(1A) inserted (5.4.1999) by S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10), art. 67(2); S.R. 1999/168, art. 2(a)
F5Words in s. 136(1A)(b) substituted (29.6.2007) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2), ss. 50(a), 60(2)(a)
F6Words in s. 136(1A) repealed (29.6.2007) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2), ss. 50(b), 60(2)(a), Sch. 8
F7Words in s. 136(2) substituted (29.11.1999) by S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10), art. 78(1), Sch. 6 para. 54(2); S.R. 1999/472, art. 2(1)(a), Sch. 1
F8S. 136(3) substituted (29.6.2007) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2), s. 60(2)(c), Sch. 7 para. 1(3)
F9Words in s. 136(4) substituted (29.11.1999) by S.I. 1998/150 (N.I. 10), art. 78(1), Sch. 6 para. 54(4)(a); S.R. 1999/472, art. 2(1)(a), Sch. 1
F10S. 136(4)(aa) inserted (5.4.1999) by S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10), art. 67(1); S.R. 1999/168, art. 2(a)
F11S. 136(4)(da) inserted (17.2.2016) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), arts. 2(2), 78(2); S.R. 2016/46, art. 3(3)
F12S. 136(4)(e) repealed (5.4.1999) by S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10), arts. 67(1), 78(2), Sch. 7; S.R. 1999/168, art. 2(a)(c)
F13Words in s. 136(4) substituted (29.11.1999) by S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10), art. 78(1), Sch. 6 para. 54(4)(b); S.R. 1999/472, art. 2(1)(a), Sch. 1
F14S. 136(4ZA)(4ZB) inserted (17.2.2016) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), arts. 2(2), 78(3); S.R. 2016/46, art. 3(3)
F15Words in s. 136(5) substituted (29.11.1999) by S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10), art. 78(1), Sch. 6 para. 54(5)(a); S.R. 1999/472, art. 2(1)(a), Sch. 1
F16Words in s. 136(5) substituted (29.11.1999) by S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10), art. 78(1), Sch. 6 para. 54(5)(b); S.R. 1999/472, art. 2(1)(a), Sch. 1