EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 and the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006.
Regulations 2 and 3 provide for an increase in the £6,000 limits beneath which capital is not taken to generate income for the purposes of calculating benefit. As the limits for claimants residing permanently in specified accommodation which provides care for the claimant are £10,000, a common limit of £10,000 will apply to all claimants who have attained state pension credit age.
Regulation 4 makes a consequential revocation.
In so far as these Regulations are required, for the purposes of regulation 3, to be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee under section 149(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), after agreement by the Social Security Advisory Committee, they have not been so referred by virtue of section 150(1)(b) of that Act. Otherwise they make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, that Act, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.