The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987

[F1 Transitional Protection E+W+S

7.— (1) Where the amount applicable to a claimant by way of housing costs under regulation 17(1)(e) or regulation 18(1)(f) (as the case may be) in the benefit week which includes 1st October 1995 (“the first benefit week") is greater than the amount which, in accordance with paragraphs 6 and 10, is applicable in his case in the next succeeding benefit week (“the second benefit week"), the claimant shall be entitled to have his existing housing costs increased by an amount (referred to in this paragraph as “add back") determined in accordance with the following provisions of this paragraph.

(2) Where the amount to be met by way of housing costs in the first benefit week is greater than the amount to be met in the second benefit week, then the amount of the add back shall be a sum representing the difference between those amounts.

(3) Where the amount of existing housing costs, disregarding the add back, which is applicable to the claimant increases after the second benefit week, the amount of the add back shall be decreased by an amount equal to that increase, and the amount of the add back shall thereafter be the decreased amount.

(4) Any increase in the amount of the existing housing costs, disregarding the add back, shall reduce the amount of the add back in the manner specified in sub-paragraph (3), and where the amount of the add back is reduced to nil, the amount of the existing housing costs shall thereafter not include any amount by way of add back.

[F2 (4A) For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (3) and (4), there is an increase in the amount of existing housing costs where in any benefit week, those costs are higher than they were in the previous benefit week (whether or not those costs are higher than they were in the second benefit week).]

(5) Where a person or his partner—

(a) was entitled to income support; and

(b) had an applicable amount which included an amount by way of add back in accordance with this paragraph; and

(c) ceased to be entitled to income support for a continuous period in excess of 12 weeks,

then, on the person or his partner again becoming entitled to income support, the applicable amount of the claimant shall be determined without reference to the provisions relating to add back in sub-paragraphs (1) to (4).

(6) Where a person whose applicable amount included an amount by way of add back under this paragraph loses the right to have an amount by way of housing costs included in his applicable amount, then where that person’s applicable amount again includes an amount by way of housing costs, that amount shall be determined without reference to the provisions relating to add back in sub-paragraphs (1) to (4).

(7) Where the partner of a person to whom sub-paragraph (6) applies becomes entitled to income support and—

(a) his applicable amount includes an amount by way of existing housing costs, and

(b) those housing costs are in respect of payments which were formerly met in the applicable amount of the person to whom sub-paragraph (6) applies

then the provisions of this paragraph shall apply to the partner as they would if he had been responsible for the housing costs immediately before 2nd October 1995 [F3 provided the claim is made not more than 12 weeks after the last day of entitlement to housing costs relating to a claim made by the person to whom sub-paragraph (6) applies].

(8) Where in the first benefit week, a claimant’s applicable amount included an amount by way of housing costs which was calculated by reference to paragraph 7(1)(b)(ii) of Schedule 3 as then in force (50 per cent. of eligible interest met) then for the purposes of this paragraph, the amount of the add back shall be determined by reference to the amount which would have been applicable on that day if 100 per cent. of the claimant’s eligible interest had been met, but only from the benefit week following the final benefit week in which paragraph 7(1)(b)(ii) of Schedule 3 would, had it remained in force, have applied in the claimant’s case.

(9) Where the existing housing costs of the claimant are determined by reference to two or more loans which qualify under this Schedule, then the provisions of this paragraph shall be applied separately to each of those loans and the amount of the add back (if any) shall be determined in respect of each loan.]

[F4 (10) In the case of a person who is a welfare to work beneficiary, the references in sub-paragraphs (5)(c) and (7) to a period of 12 weeks shall be treated as references to a period of 52 weeks.]

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. 7(4A) inserted (2.10.2006) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2378), regs. 1(3), 5(8)(c)

F3 Words in Sch. 3 para. 7(7) inserted (12.12.1995) by The Social Security (Income Support, Claims and Payments and Adjudication) Amendment Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/2927), regs. 1(1), 5(6)

F4 Sch. 3 para. 7(10) added (5.10.1998) by The Social Security (Welfare to Work) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/2231), regs. 1, 13(4)(a)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 3 para. 7(8) sum confirmed (10.4.2006 for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with art. 1(2)(i)) by The Social Security Benefits Up Rating Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/645), arts. 1(2)(i), 16(8), Sch. 5