The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987

Changes over time for: Section 42

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The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987, Section 42 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 01 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

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Changes and effects yet to be applied to Regulation 42:

Regulations amendment to earlier affecting provision S.S.I. 2003/460, sch. Pt. 2 Table B by S.S.I. 2024/311 reg. 11

Notional incomeE+W+S

42.—[F1(1) A claimant is to be treated as possessing income of which the claimant has deprived themselves for the purpose of securing entitlement to income support or increasing the amount of that benefit, or for the purpose of securing entitlement to, or increasing the amount of a jobseeker’s allowance or an employment and support allowance.]

(2) Except in the case of—

(a)a discretionary trust;

(b)a trust derived from a payment made in consequence of a personal injury;

[F2(c)jobseeker’s allowance;]

[F3(d)[F4child benefit to which paragraph (2D) refers;]]

(e)[F5working tax credit];

(f)[F6child tax credit],

[F7(g)a personal pension scheme [F8, occupational pension scheme] [F9, F10... or a payment made by the Board of the Pension Protection Fund] where the claimant [F11has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit],]

[F12(ga)any sum to which paragraph (8ZA) applies;]

F13(h). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F14(i)any sum to which paragraph 44(2)(a) of Schedule 10 (capital to be disregarded) applies which is administered in the way referred to in paragraph 44(1)(a);

(ia)any sum to which paragraph 45(a) of Schedule 10 refers; or]

[F15(j)rehabilitation allowance made under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973.]

income which would become available to the claimant upon application being made but which has not been acquired by him shall be treated as possessed by him but only from the date on which [F16it could be expected to be acquired were an application made].

[F17(2ZA) A claimant who has attained the [F18qualifying age for state pension credit] shall be treated as possessing—

(a)the amount of any income from an occupational pension scheme, [F19a personal pension schemeF20... or the Board of the Pension Protection Fund]—

(i)for which no claim has been made, and

(ii)to which he might expect to be entitled if a claim for it were made;

(b)income from an occupational pension scheme which the claimant elected to defer,

but only from the date on which it could be expected to be acquired were an application for it to be made.]

[F21(2A) This paragraph applies where a person [F22who has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit]—

(a)is entitled to money purchase benefits under an occupational pension scheme or a personal pension scheme;

(b)fails to purchase an annuity with the funds available in that scheme; and

(c)either—

(i)defers in whole or in part the payment of any income which would have been payable to him by his pension fund holder, or

(ii)fails to take any necessary action to secure that the whole of any income which would be payable to him by his pension fund holder upon his applying for it, is so paid, or

(iii)income withdrawal is not available to him under that scheme.

(2AA) Where paragraph (2A) applies, the amount of any income foregone shall be treated as possessed by that person, but only from the date on which it could be expected to be acquired were an application for it to be made.]

[F23(2B) The amount of any income foregone in a case [F24where paragraph (2A)(c)(i) or (ii)] applies shall be the [F25rate of the annuity which may have been purchased with the fund] and shall be determined by the [F26Secretary of State] who shall take account of information provided by the pension fund holder in accordance with regulation 7(5) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987.

(2C) The amount of any income foregone in a case [F27where paragraph (2A)(c)(iii)] applies shall be the income that the [F28person] could have received without purchasing an annuity had the funds held under the [F29relevant occupational or personal pension scheme] F30... been held [F31under a scheme] where income withdrawal was available and shall be determined in the manner specified in paragraph (2B).]

[F32(2CA) In paragraph (2A), “money purchase benefits” has the meaning it has in the Pension Schemes Act 1993.]

[F33(2D) [F34This paragraph refers to child benefit payable in accordance with regulation 2(1)(a)(ii) of the Child Benefit and Social Security (Fixing and Adjustment of Rates) Regulations 1976 (weekly rate for only, elder or eldest child of a lone parent) but only to the extent that it exceeds the amount specified in regulation 2(1)(a)(i) of those Regulations.]]

(3) Except in the case of a discretionary trust, or a trust derived from a payment made in consequence of a personal injury, any income which is due to be paid to the claimant but—

(a)has not been paid to him;

(b)is not a payment prescribed in regulation [F358 or 9] of the Social Security (Payments on Account, Overpayment and Recovery) Regulations [F351988] (duplication and prescribed payments or maintenance payments) and not made on or before the date prescribed in relation to it,

shall [F36except for any amount to which paragraph (3A) [F37, (3B) or (3C)] applies] be treated as possessed by the claimant.

[F38(3A) This paragraph applies to an amount which is due to be paid to the claimant under an occupational pension scheme but which is not paid because the trustees or managers of the scheme have suspended or ceased payments F39... due to an insufficiency of resources.]

[F38(3B) This paragraph applies to any amount by which a payment made to the claimant from an occupational pension scheme falls short of the payment to which he was due under the scheme where the shortfall arises because the trustees or managers of the scheme have insufficient resources available to them to meet in full the scheme’s liabilitiesF40....]

[F41(3C) This paragraph applies to any earnings which are due to an employed earner on the termination of his employment by reason of redundancy but which have not been paid to him.]

[F42(4) [F43Any payment of income, other than a payment of income specified in [F44paragraph (4ZA) or (4ZB)]], made—

(a)to a third party in respect of a single claimant or [F45in respect of a member of the family] [F45his partner] (but not a member of the third party’s family) shall be treated—

(i)in a case where that payment is derived from a payment of any benefit under the benefit Acts, [F46a payment from the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme,] a war disablement pension [F47, war widow’s pension [F48or war widower’s pension] or a pension payable to a person as a [F49widow, widower or surviving civil partner] under F50... any power of Her Majesty otherwise than under an enactment to make provision about pensions for or in respect of persons who have been disabled or have died in consequence of service as members of the armed forces of the Crown,] as possessed by that single claimant, if it is paid to him, [F51or by that member, if it is paid to any member of that family] [F51or by his partner, if it is paid to his partner];

[F52(ia)in a case where that payment is a payment of an occupational pension [F53, a pension or other periodical payment made under a personal pension scheme or a payment made by the Board of the Pension Protection Fund], as possessed by that single claimant or, as the case may be, by [F54that member] [F54the claimant’s partner];]

(ii)in any other case, as possessed by that single claimant [F55or by that member] [F55or his partner] to the extent that it is used for the food, ordinary clothing or footwear, household fuel, rent F56... for which housing benefit is payable, [F57or]F58... any housing costs to the extent that they are met under regulations 17(1)(e) or 18(1)(f) (housing costs) F59... F60... F61...), of that single claimant or, as the case may be, [F55of any member of that family] [F55of his partner] [F62, or is used for any [F63council tax] or water charges for which that claimant or [F55member is liable] [F55partner is liable];]

(b)[F64to a single claimant or a member of the family in respect of a third party (but not in respect of another member of that family) shall be treated as possessed by that single claimant or, as the case may be, that member of the family to the extent that it is kept or used by him or used by or on behalf of any member of the family;]

[F64to a single claimant or his partner in respect of a third party (but not in respect of another member of his family) shall be treated as possessed by that single claimant or, as the case may be, his partner, to the extent that it is kept or used by him or used by or on behalf of his partner;]

but, except where sub-paragraph (a)(i) applies and in the case of a person to whom section 23 of the Act (trade disputes) applies, this paragraph shall not apply to any payment in kind [F65to the third party].]

[F66(4ZA) Paragraph (4) shall not apply in respect of a payment of income made—

(a)under [F67or by] the Macfarlane Trust, the Macfarlane (Special Payments) Trust, the Macfarlane (Special Payments) (No.2) Trust, the Fund, the Eileen Trust [F68, MFET Limited] [F69, the Skipton Fund, the Caxton Foundation] [F70, the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme] [F71, an approved blood scheme] [F72, the London Emergencies Trust, the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund] [F73, the National Emergencies Trust] or the Independent Living [F74Fund (2006)];

(b)pursuant to section 19(1)(a) of the Coal Industry Act 1994 (concessionary coal); or

(c)pursuant to section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973 in respect of a person’s participation—

(i)in an employment programme specified in regulation 75(1)(a)(ii) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996;

(ii)in a training scheme specified in regulation 75(1)(b)(ii) of those Regulations; or

[F75(iia)in the Intensive Activity Period specified in regulation 75(1)(a)(iv) of those RegulationsF76...; or]

(iii)in a qualifying course within the meaning specified in regulation 17A(7) of those Regulations.]

[F77(ca)in respect of a person’s participation in [F78a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013] or the Mandatory Work Activity Scheme; or]

[F79(d)under an occupational pension scheme [F80, in respect of a pension or other periodical payment made under a personal pension scheme or a payment made by the Board of the Pension Protection Fund] where—

(i)a bankruptcy order has been made in respect of the person in respect of whom the payment has been made or, in Scotland, the estate of that person is subject to sequestration or a judicial factor has been appointed on that person’s estate under section 41 of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980;

(ii)the payment is made to the trustee in bankruptcy or any other person acting on behalf of the creditors; and

(iii)the person referred to in (i) and [F81any member of his family] [F81his partner (if any)] does not possess, or is not treated as possessing, any other income apart from that payment.]

[F82(4ZB) Paragraph (4) shall not apply in respect of [F83any of the following payments of income—]

(a)a Grenfell Tower payment;

(b)a child abuse payment;

(c)a Windrush payment.]

[F84(d)a Post Office compensation payment.]

[F85(4A) Where the claimant [F86resides in a care home, an Abbeyfield Home or an independent hospital, or is temporarily absent from such a home or hospital], any payment made by a person other than the claimant or a member of his family in respect of some or all of the cost of maintaining the claimant [F87or a member of his family in that home shall be treated as possessed by the claimant or by that member of his family] [F87or his partner in that home [F88or hospital] shall be treated as possessed by the claimant or his partner].]

(5) Where a claimant's earnings are not ascertainable at the time of the determination of the claim or of any [F89revision or supersession the Secretary of State] shall treat the claimant as possessing such earnings as is reasonable in the circumstances of the case having regard to the number of hours worked and the earnings paid for comparable employment in the area.

[F90(5A) Where the amount of a subsistence allowance paid to a claimant in a benefit week is less than the amount of income-based jobseeker’s allowance that person would have received in that benefit week had it been payable to him, less 50p, he shall be treated as possessing the amount which is equal to the amount of income-based jobseeker’s allowance which he would have received in that week, less 50p.]

(6) [F91Subject to paragraph (6A),] where—

(a)a claimant performs a service for another person; and

(b)that person makes no payment of earnings or pays less than that paid for a comparable employment in the area,

the [F92Secretary of State] shall treat the claimant as possessing such earnings (if any) as is reasonable for that employment unless the claimant satisfies him that the means of that person are insufficient for him to pay or to pay more for the serviceF93... .

[F94(6A) Paragraph (6) shall not apply—

(a)to a claimant who is engaged by a charitable or voluntary organisation or who is a volunteer if the [F95Secretary of State] is satisfied in any of those cases that it is reasonable for him to provide the service free of charge;

[F96(b)in a case where the service is performed in connection with–

(i)the claimant’s participation in an employment or training programme in accordance with regulation 19(1)(q) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 [F97, other than where the service is performed in connection with the claimant’s participation in the Intensive Activity Period specified in regulation 75(1)(a)(iv) of those RegulationsF98...]; or

(ii)the claimant’s or the claimant’s partner’s participation in an employment or training programme as defined in regulation 19(3) of those Regulations for which a training allowance is not payable or, where such an allowance is payable, it is payable for the sole purpose of reimbursement of travelling or meal expenses to the person participating in that programme; or]

(c)to a claimant who is engaged in work experience whilst participating in—

(i)the New Deal for Lone Parents; or

(ii)a scheme which has been approved by the Secretary of State as supporting the objectives of the New Deal for Lone ParentsF99...[F100; or

(d)to a claimant who is participating in a work placement approved by the Secretary of State (or a person providing services to the Secretary of State) before the placement starts.]

[F100(6AA) In paragraph (6A)(d) “work placement” means practical work experience which is not undertaken in expectation of payment.]

F101(6B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F101(6C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

(7) Where a claimant is treated as possessing any income under any of [F102paragraphs (1) to (4A)] the foregoing provisions of this Part shall apply for the purposes of calculating the amount of that income as if a payment had actually been made and as if it were actual income which he does possess.

(8) Where a claimant is treated as possessing any earnings under paragraph (5) or (6) the foregoing provisions of this Part shall apply for the purposes of calculating the amount of those earnings as if a payment had actually been made and as if they were actual earnings which he does possess except that paragraph (3) of regulation 36 (calculation of net earnings of employed earners) shall not apply and his net earnings shall be calculated by taking into account the earnings which he is treated as possessing, less—

(a)an amount in respect of income tax equivalent to an amount calculated by applying to those earnings [F103, F104 ... the basic rate [F105, or in the case of a Scottish taxpayer, the Scottish basic rate,] of tax] in the year of assessment less only the [F106personal reliefs to which the claimant is entitled under Chapters 2, 3 and 3A of Part 3 of the Income Tax Act 2007 as are] appropriate to his circumstances; but, if the period over which those earnings are to be taken into account is less than a year, [F107the earnings to which the [F108[F109basic] rate] [F110, or the Scottish basic rate,] F111... of tax is to be applied and] the amount of the [F112personal reliefs] deductible under this paragraph shall be calculated on a pro rata basis;

[F113(b)where the weekly amount of those earnings equals or exceeds the lower earnings limit, an amount representing primary Class 1 contributions under the Contributions and Benefits Act, calculated by applying to those earnings the initial and main primary percentages in accordance with section 8(1) (a) and (b) of that Act; and]

(c)one-half of any sum payable by the claimant [F114in respect of a pay period] by way of a contribution towards an occupational or personal pension scheme.

[F115(8ZA) Paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) shall not apply in respect of any amount of income other than earnings, or earnings derived from employment as an employed earner, arising out of the [F116claimant participating as a service user].]

[F117(8A) In paragraphs (3A) and (3B) the expression “resources” has the same meaning as in the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 by virtue of section 66(1) of that Act.]

[F118(9) In paragraph (4) the expression “ordinary clothing or footwear” means clothing or footwear for normal daily use, but does not include school uniforms, or clothing or footwear used solely for sporting activities.]

Textual Amendments

F1Reg. 42(1) substituted (31.10.2011) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2425), regs. 1(2), 7(4)

F2Reg. 42(2)(c) substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Income Support (General) (Jobseeker’s Allowance Consequential Amendments) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/206), regs. 1(1), 17

F3Reg. 42(2)(d) substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Child Benefit, Child Support and Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1803), regs. 1(1)(b), 37(a)

F4Reg. 42(2)(d) omitted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2)-(5) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 1 para. 10(a)

F5Words in reg. 42(2)(e) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(5)(a) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 1 para. 10(b)

F6Words in reg. 42(2)(f) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(5)(a) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 1 para. 10(c)

F7Reg. 42(2)(g) inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(4) of the amending S.I.) by The Income-related Benefits Schemes and Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/2303), regs. 1(1)(a), 6(4)(a) (with reg. 8)

F8Words in reg. 42(2)(g) inserted (6.4.2006) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2465), regs. 1(5)(a), 2(3)(a)

F9Words in reg. 42(2)(g) substituted (6.4.2006) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/588), regs. 1(9), 2(2)(a)

F10Words in reg. 42(2)(g) omitted (16.7.2007) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1749), regs. 1, 2(6)(a)

F11Words in reg. 42(2)(g) substituted (6.4.2010) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/641), regs. 1(1), 2(6)(a)