Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Housing Renovation etc. Grants (Reduction of Grant) Regulations 1994 and partly reflect recent changes to housing benefit rules, among them the replacement of sickness and invalidity benefits by incapacity benefit and the introduction of a new test of incapacity for work, under the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994. In addition there are minor and drafting amendments.
Regulation 2 contains the amendments. In particular:
paragraph (4) changes the multipliers in regulation 10 (reduction in amount of grant);
paragraph (6)(a) amends regulation 16(1) (determination of income on a weekly basis) to require deductions to be made in respect of relevant child care charges and paragraph (7) adds regulation 16A (treatment of child care charges);
paragraph (19) amends Schedule 1 (applicable amounts) by uprating the applicable amounts and premiums, changing references to invalidity pension to incapacity benefit, and substituting provisions relating to the new test for incapacity for work.
Regulation 3 stops the Regulations applying to applications for grant made before 17th April 1995 (except as specified in paragraph (2) of that regulation). Regulation 4 contains transitional provisions.