EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Rate Relief (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and the Rate Relief (Qualifying Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (“the principal Regulations”) which apply the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 and the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (“the Housing Benefit Regulations”) for the purposes of the principal Regulations as they apply for the purposes of the Housing Benefit Regulations with modifications.
Regulation 2 amends the Rate Relief (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 to take account of amendments to the Housing Benefit Regulations. The regulation removes any references to rent. It also reforms Extended Payments, which are work incentive measures designed to provide an additional 4 weeks assistance for people moving into work, within Rate Relief. The regulation makes provision for claims for Rate Relief to be made by telephone. Provision is also made to permit recovery of an overpayment from a claimant’s partner where Rate Relief is payable to the partner.
Regulation 3 makes equivalent amendments to the Rate Relief (Qualifying Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.