2000 No. 325
Housing Renovation etc. Grants (Reduction of Grant) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000
Made
Coming into operation
The Department for Social Development1, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 47 of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 19922 and now exercisable by it3 and of every other power enabling it in that behalf, with the consent of the Department of Finance and Personnel, hereby makes the following Regulations:
Citation and commencement1
These Regulations may be cited as the Housing Renovation etc. Grants (Reduction of Grant) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and shall come into operation on 30th November 2000.
Amendments2
The Housing Renovation etc. Grants (Reduction of Grant) Regulations 19974 are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 21.
Regulation 23
In regulation 2(1) (interpretation) after “social fund payment”, insert—
“sports award” means an award made by one of the Sports Councils named in section 23(2) of the National Lottery etc. Act 19935 out of sums allocated to it for distribution under that section;
Regulation 34
In regulation 3 (persons from abroad), after “or any of the applicants”, insert “or any person who is not an applicant but is entitled to make an application and lives or intends to live in the dwelling or, as the case may be, a flat in the building,”.
Regulation 65
In regulation 6 (remunerative work)6, after paragraph (7), add—
8
A person shall not be treated as engaged in remunerative work on any day on which that person is engaged in an activity in respect of which—
a
a sports award has been made, or is to be made, to him; and
b
no other payment is made or is expected to be made to him.
Regulation 96
In regulation 9 (the applicable amount)7, for paragraph (1)(b) substitute:
b
£50 or, where the application is for a disabled facilities grant to carry out works for the benefit of a disabled person who is a child or young person, £65.
Regulation 117
In regulation 11 (reduction in amount of grant)8—
a
in paragraph (a)(i), for “18·75” substitute “18·10”;
b
in paragraph (a)(ii), for “37·50” substitute “36·20”;
c
in paragraph (a)(iii), for “150·02” substitute “144·82”;
d
in paragraph (a)(iv), for “375·04” substitute “362.04”;
e
in paragraph (b)(i), for “10·87” substitute “10.65”;
f
in paragraph (b)(ii), for “21·74” substitute “21·29”;
g
in paragraph (b)(iii), for “86·95” substitute “85.18”;
h
in paragraph (b)(iv), for “217·37” substitute “212·95”;
Regulation 178
In paragraph (1A) of regulation 179 (determination of income on a weekly basis)—
a
in sub-paragraph (a) for “£60” substitute “£70”; and
b
in sub-paragraph (b) for “£100” substitute “£105”.
Regulation 239
1
At the end of paragraph (1) of regulation 23 (earnings of employed earners), add—
l
the amount of any payment by way of a non-cash voucher which has been taken into account in the computation of a person’s earnings in accordance with regulation 18(22) to (25) of the Social security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 197910;
m
any amount, where a relevant person qualifies for the national minimum wage under section 1 of the National Minimum Wage Act 199811, which under section 17 of that Act that person shall be taken to be entitled to be paid under his contract as additional remuneration in respect of any pay reference period falling within 52 weeks immediately preceding the application.
2
At the beginning of paragraph (2)(a), insert “subject to paragraph (3),”.
3
After paragraph (2), add:—
3
Paragraph (2)(a) shall not apply in respect of any non-cash voucher referred to in paragraph (1)(l).
4
In this regulation, “any pay reference period” means the period prescribed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in regulations made under section 1(4) of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998.
Regulation 2510
After “in the relevant person’s care)” in paragraph (2) of regulation 25 (earnings of self-employed earners), insert “and also shall not include any sports award”.
Regulation 3011
1
In regulation 30(6) (notional income)12—
a
insert immediately before sub-paragraph (a)—
za
to a third party in respect of a single relevant person or a member of his family (but not a member of the third party’s family) shall, where that payment is a payment of an occupational pension or is a pension or other periodical payment made under a personal pension scheme, be treated as possessed by that single relevant person or, as the case may be, by that member;
b
in sub-paragraph (a), after “shall” insert “, where it is not a payment referred to in sub-paragraph (za),”.
2
In regulation 30(6A) after sub-paragraph (c), add—
d
made under an occupational pension scheme or in respect of a pension or other periodical payment made under a personal pension scheme 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 198013;
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 any member of his family does not possess, or is not treated as possessing, any other income apart from that payment.
Regulation 3712
1
In regulation 37(3) (notional capital)14—
a
insert immediately before sub-paragraph (a)—
za
if made to a third party in respect of a single relevant person or a member of his family (but not a member of the third party’s family) shall, where that payment is a payment of an occupational pension or is a pension or other periodical payment made under a personal pension scheme, be treated as possessed by that single relevant person or, as the case may be, by that member;
b
in sub-paragraph (a), after “shall” insert “, where it is not a payment referred to in sub-paragraph (za),”.
2
In regulation 37(3A) after sub-paragraph (b), add—
c
made under an occupational pension scheme or in respect of a pension or other periodical payment made under a personal pension scheme 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 any member of his family does not possess, or is not treated as possessing, any other income apart from that payment.
Regulation 4013
In regulation 40 (interpretation)—
a
in the definition of “contribution”15 after “grant” insert “or student loan”;
b
after the definition of “student” insert—
c
for the definition of “year” substitute—
“year”, in relation to a course, means the period of 12 months beginning on 1st January, 1st April, 1st July or 1st September according to whether the academic year of the course begins in the winter, the spring, the summer or the autumn respectively, but if students are required to begin attending the course during August or September and to continue attending through the autumn the academic year of the course shall be considered to begin in the autumn rather than the summer.
Regulation 4214
In regulation 42 (determination of grant income)—
a
in paragraph (2)(f)19 omit the words from “or” to the end;
b
for paragraph (3) substitute—
3
Where a student does not have a student loan and is not treated as possessing such a loan, there shall be excluded from the student’s grant income—
a
the sum of £250 in respect of travel costs; and
b
where no amount has been disregarded under sub-paragraph (2)(f), the sum of £303 towards the cost of books and equipment,
whether or not any such costs are incurred.
Regulation 4415
In regulation 44 (other amounts to be disregarded), after “(3)” insert “or 45(5).”.
Regulation 4516
In regulation 45 (treatment of student loans)—
a
for paragraph (1) substitute—
1
A student loan shall be treated as income.
b
for paragraph (3) substitute the following paragraphs—
3
A student shall be treated as possessing a student loan in respect of an academic year where—
a
a student loan has been made to him in respect of that year; or
b
he could acquire such a loan in respect of that year by taking reasonable steps to do so.
4
Where a student is treated as possessing a student loan under paragraph (3), the amount of the student loan to be taken into account as income shall be, subject to paragraph (5)—
a
in the case of a student to whom a student loan is made in respect of an academic year, a sum equal to—
i
the maximum student loan he is able to acquire in respect of that year by taking reasonable steps to do so; and
ii
any contribution whether or not it has been paid;
b
in the case of a student to whom a student loan is not made in respect of an academic year, the maximum student loan that would be made to the student if—
i
he took all reasonable steps to obtain the maximum student loan he is able to acquire in respect of that year; and
ii
no deduction in that loan was made by virtue of the application of a means test.
5
There shall be deducted from the amount of a student’s loan income—
a
the sum of £250 in respect of travel costs; and
b
where no amount has been disregarded under regulation 42(2)(f), the sum of £303 towards the cost of books and equipment,
whether or not any such costs are incurred.
Regulation 4617
In regulation 46 (disregard of contribution), after “grant” insert “or the student’s loan”.
Regulation 46A18
In regulation 46A (further disregard of student’s income)20, for “grant” substitute “student grant or student loan”.
Schedule 119
1
In paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 1 (applicable amounts: personal allowances)21 in the column headed “(2) Amount”—
a
in sub-paragraph 1(a), for “£40·70” substitute “£41·35”;
b
in sub-paragraph 1(b), for “£51·40” substitute “£52·20”;
c
in sub-paragraph 2(a), for “£40·70” substitute “£41·35”;
d
in sub-paragraph 2(b), for “£51·40” substitute “£52·20”;
e
in sub-paragraph 3(a), for “£61·35” substitute “£62·35”;
f
in sub-paragraph 3(b), for “£80·65” substitute “£81·95”.
2
In paragraph 2 of Part I of Schedule 1, for columns (1) and (2) of the table substitute the following columns—
Column (1)
Column (2)
Child or Young Person
Amount
Person in respect of the period—
a
beginning on that person’s date of birth and ending on the day preceding the first Monday in September following that person’s sixteenth birthday;
a
£26·60
b
beginning on the first Monday in September following that person’s sixteenth birthday and ending on the day preceding that person’s nineteenth birthday.
b
£31·75.
3
In paragraph 3 of Part II of Schedule 1 (applicable amounts: family premium), for “£13·90” substitute “£14·25” and for “£22·05” substitute “£22·20”.
4
In paragraph 18 of Part IV of Schedule 1 (applicable amounts: amounts of premiums specified in Part III), in the column headed “Amount”—
a
in sub-paragraph (1)(a), for “£23·60” substitute “£26·25”;
b
in sub-paragraph (1)(b), for “£35·95” substitute “£40·00”;
c
in sub-paragraph (2)(a), for “£25·90” substitute “£28·65”;
d
in sub-paragraph (2)(b), for “£39·20” substitute “£43·40”;
e
in sub-paragraph (3)(a), for “£30·85” substitute “£33·85”;
f
in sub-paragraph (3)(b), for “£44·65” substitute “£49·10”;
g
in sub-paragraph (4)(a), for “£21·90” substitute “£22·25”;
h
in sub-paragraph (4)(b), for “£31·25” substitute “£31·75”;
i
in sub-paragraph (5)(a), for “£39·75” substitute “£40·20”;
j
in sub-paragraph (5)(b)(i), for “£39·75” substitute “£40·20”;
k
in sub-paragraph (5)(b)(ii), for “£79·50” substitute “£80·40”;
l
in sub-paragraph (6), for “£21·90” substitute “£22·25”; and
m
in sub-paragraph (7), for “£13·95” substitute “£14·15”.
Schedule 320
In Schedule 3 (sums to be disregarded in the determination of income other than earnings)22—
a
for paragraph 10, substitute—
10
Any—
a
educational maintenance allowances payable under Article 50 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 198623 (provision of awards by boards); or
b
sum (not being an allowance coming within sub-paragraph (a)) in respect of a course of study attended by a child or young person payable under Article 50 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.
b
in paragraph 18, after “that student’s award under those Articles” insert—
or the student’s student loan,
c
in sub-paragraph (1)(a) of paragraph 19, for “or grant” substitute “, student grant or student loan”;
d
in paragraph 57, for “allowance” in the first place where it occurs, substitute “credit”.
e
at the end, add—
65
1
Any payment of a sports award except to the extent that it has been made in respect of any one or more of the items specified in sub-paragraph (2).
2
The items specified for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) are food, ordinary clothing or footwear or household fuel of the relevant person or where the relevant person is a member of a family, any other member of his family, or any eligible rates or rent to which regulation 9 or 10 of the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 198724 refers for which that relevant person or member is liable.
3
For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)—
a
“food” does not include vitamins, minerals or other special dietary supplements intended to enhance the performance of the person in the sport in respect of which the award was made;
b
“ordinary clothing and footwear” means clothing or footwear for normal daily use but does not include school uniforms or clothing or footwear used solely for sporting activities;
c
“rates or rent” means eligible rates or rent to which regulations 9 or 10 of the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 refer, less any deductions in respect of non-dependants which fall to be made under regulation 6325 of those Regulations.
Schedule 421
At the end of Schedule 4 (capital to be disregarded)26, add—
57
1
Any payment of a sports award for a period of 26 weeks from the date of receipt of that payment except to the extent that it has been made in respect of any one or more of the items specified in sub-paragraph (2).
2
The items specified for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) are food, ordinary clothing or footwear or household fuel of the relevant person or, where the relevant person is a member of a family, any other member of his family, or any eligible rates or rent to which regulation 9 or 10 of the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 refers for which that relevant person or member is liable.
3
For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)—
a
“food” does not include vitamins, minerals or other special dietary supplements intended to enhance the performance of the person in the sport in respect of which the award was made;
b
“ordinary clothing and footwear” means clothing or footwear for normal daily use but does not include school uniforms or clothing or footwear used solely for sporting activities;
c
“rates or rent” means eligible rates or rent to which regulations 9 or 10 of the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 refer, less any deductions in respect of non-dependants which fall to be made under regulation 63 of those Regulations.
Application22
The amendments made by these Regulations shall not have effect in relation to applications for grant made before these Regulations come into force.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 25th October 2000.
The Department of Finance and Personnel hereby consents to the foregoing Regulations.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on 25th October 2000.
(This note is not part of the Regulations.)