The Housing Benefit and Universal Credit (Supported Accommodation) (Amendment) Regulations 2014

Amendment of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013

2.—(1) The Universal Credit Regulations 2013(1) are amended as follows.

(2) In Schedule 1 (meaning of payments in respect of accommodation)—

(a) in paragraph 1 (interpretation)—

(i) for the definition of “exempt accommodation” substitute—

““exempt accommodation” has the meaning given in paragraph 4(10) of Schedule 3 to the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006(2);”;

(ii) omit the definition of “upper-tier county council”.

(b) in paragraph 3 (payments excluded from being rent payments)—

(i) omit paragraph (e);

(ii) after paragraph (g) add—

“(h) payments in respect of accommodation specified in paragraph 3A.”;

(c) after paragraph 3 insert—

“Specified accommodation

3A.— (1) The accommodation referred to in paragraph 3(h) is accommodation to which one or more of the following sub-paragraphs applies.

(2) This sub-paragraph applies to accommodation which is exempt accommodation.

(3) This sub-paragraph applies to accommodation—

(a) which is provided by a relevant body;

(b) into which the claimant has been admitted in order to meet a need for care, support or supervision; and

(c) where the claimant receives care, support or supervision.

(4) This sub-paragraph applies to accommodation which—

(a) is provided by a local authority or a relevant body to the claimant because the claimant has left the home as a result of domestic violence; and

(b) consists of a building, or part of a building, which is used wholly or mainly for the non-permanent accommodation of persons who have left their homes as a result of domestic violence.

(5) This sub-paragraph applies to accommodation—

(a) which would be a hostel within the meaning of paragraph 29(10) (renters excepted form shared accommodation) of Schedule 4 (housing costs element for renters) but for it being owned or managed by a local authority; and

(b) where the claimant receives care, support or supervision.

(6) In this paragraph—

“domestic violence” has the meaning given in regulation 98 (victims of domestic violence)(3);

“relevant body” means a—

(a)

council for a county in England for each part of which there is a district council;

(b)

housing association;

(c)

registered charity; or

(d)

voluntary organisation”.

(3) In Schedule 4 (housing costs element for renters) in paragraph 2 (interpretation)(4) for the definition of “exempt accommodation” substitute—

““exempt accommodation” has the meaning given in paragraph 4(10) of Schedule 3 to the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006(5);”.

(1)

S.I. 2013/376.

(2)

S.I. 2006/217.

(3)

The definition of “domestic violence” was substituted by S.I. 2013/1508.

(4)

There is an amendment to paragraph 2 which is not relevant to this instrument.

(5)

S.I. 2006/217.