Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations

23.—(1) The Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(1) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (5).

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation) in the definition of “the benefit Acts”(2) after “the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011” insert “, the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015”.

(3) In regulation 31(d) (disregard of changes in tax, contributions etc.) after “the Act” insert “or a state pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015”.

(4) In paragraph 13(1)(a)(ii)(3) (additional condition for the disability premium) of Schedule 4 (applicable amounts) after “that Act” insert “or a state pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015”.

(5) After paragraph 1(a)(4) of Schedule 5 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings) insert—

(aa)where—

(i)the employment has been terminated because of retirement; and

(ii)on retirement he is entitled to a state pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, or is not so entitled solely because he does not have the minimum number of qualifying years,

any earnings paid or due to be paid in respect of that employment, but only for a period commencing on the day immediately after the date the employment was terminated;.

(1)

S.R. 2006 No. 405; relevant amending instruments are S.R. 2007 No. 396; S.R 2008 Nos. 179 and 378 and S.I. 2013/3021

(2)

The definition of the “benefit Acts” was amended by regulation 3(2)(a)(iii) of S.R. 2008 No. 378 and Article 26(2)(b) of S.I. 2013/3021

(3)

Paragraph 13(1) of Schedule 4 was amended by regulation 3(8)(d)(i) and (ii) of S.R. 2008 No. 179

(4)

Paragraph 1(a) of Schedule 5 was amended by regulation 9(11)(a)(i) of S.R. 2007 No. 396.