The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987

[F1 Excessive Housing Costs E+W+S

13.— (1) Housing costs which, apart from this paragraph, fall to be met under this Schedule shall be met only to the extent specified in sub-paragraph (3) where—

(a) the dwelling occupied as the home, excluding any part which is let, is larger than is required by the claimant and his family and any child or young person to whom regulation 16(4) applies (foster children) and any other non-dependants having regard, in particular, to suitable alternative accommodation occupied by a household of the same size; or

(b) the immediate area in which the dwelling occupied as the home is located is more expensive than other areas in which suitable alternative accommodation exists; or

(c) the outgoings of the dwelling occupied as the home which are met under paragraphs 5 to 17 are higher than the outgoings of suitable alternative accommodation in the area.

(2) For the purposes of heads (a) to (c) of sub-paragraph (1), no regard shall be had to the capital value of the dwelling occupied as the home.

(3) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, the amount of the loan which falls to be met shall be restricted and the excess over the amounts which the claimant would need to obtain suitable alternative accommodation shall not be allowed.

(4) Where, having regard to the relevant factors, it is not reasonable to expect the claimant and his family to seek alternative cheaper accommodation, no restriction shall be made under sub-paragraph (3).

(5) In sub-paragraph (4) “the relevant factors" are—

(a) the availability of suitable accommodation and the level of housing costs in the area; and

(b) the circumstances of the family including in particular the age and state of health of its members, the employment prospects of the claimant and, where a change in accommodation is likely to result in a change of school, the effect on the education of any child or young person who is a member of his family, or any child or young person who is not treated as part of his family by virtue of regulation 16(4) (foster children).

[F2 (6) Where sub-paragraph (4) does not apply and the claimant (or other member of the family) was able to meet the financial commitments for the dwelling occupied as the home when these were entered into, no restriction shall be made under this paragraph during the 26 weeks immediately following the date on which–

(a) the claimant became entitled to income support where the claimant’s housing costs fell within one of the cases in sub-paragraph (1) on that date; or

(b) a decision took effect which was made under section 10 (decisions superseding earlier decisions) of the Social Security Act 1998 on the ground that the claimant’s housing costs fell within one of the cases in sub-paragraph (1),

nor during the next 26 weeks if and so long as the claimant uses his best endeavours to obtain cheaper accommodation.]

(7) For the purposes of calculating any period of 26 weeks referred to in sub-paragraph (6), and for those purposes only, a person shall be treated as entitled to income support for any period of 12 weeks or less in respect of which he was not in receipt of income support and which fell immediately between periods in respect of which he was in receipt thereof.

(8) Any period in respect of which—

(a) income support was paid to a person, and

(b) it was subsequently determined F3 ... that he was not entitled to income support for that period,

shall be treated for the purposes of sub-paragraph (7) as a period in respect of which he was not in receipt of income support.

(9) Heads (c) to (f) of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 14 shall apply to sub-paragraph (7) as they apply to paragraphs 6 and 8 but with the modification that the words “Subject to sub-paragraph (2)" were omitted and references to “the claimant" were references to the person mentioned in sub-paragraph (7).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 3 substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Income Support and Claims and Payments) Amendment Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/1613), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1

F2 Sch. 3 para. 13(6) substituted (29.11.1999) by The Social Security Act 1998 (Commencement No. 12 and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/3178), reg. 3(1)(a), Sch. 5 para. 9(a)(i) (with reg. 3(1)(b), Schs. 21-23)

F3 Words in Sch. 3 para. 13(8)(b) omitted (29.11.1999) by virtue of The Social Security Act 1998 (Commencement No. 12 and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/3178), reg. 3(1)(a), Sch. 5 para. 9(a)(ii) (with reg. 3(1)(b), Schs. 21-23)