The Social Security (Income and Capital Disregards) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023

Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations

5.—(1) The Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(1) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (8).

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation)—

(a) for the definition of “Grenfell Tower payment”(2) substitute—

““Grenfell Tower payment” means a payment made for the purpose of providing compensation or support in respect of the fire on 14th June 2017 at Grenfell Tower;”;

(b) at the appropriate places insert—

““the Horizon system” means any version of the computer system used by the Post Office known as Horizon, Horizon Legacy, Horizon Online or HNG-X;”;

““the Post Office” means Post Office Limited (registered number 02154540);”;

““Post Office compensation payment” means a payment made by the Post Office or the Secretary of State for the purpose of providing compensation or support which is—

(a)

in connection with the failings of the Horizon system, or

(b)

otherwise payable following the judgment in Bates and Others v Post Office Limited ((No. 3) “Common Issues”)(3)”;

““vaccine damage payment” means a payment under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979;”;

(c) in the definition of “qualifying person”(4), for “or a Windrush payment” substitute “, a Windrush payment, a Post Office compensation payment or a vaccine damage payment”.

(3) In regulation 39(7A)(5) (notional income), after sub-paragraph (c) add—

“(d) a Post Office compensation payment.”.

(4) In regulation 43(6)(6) (income treated as capital), after “a Windrush payment” insert “, a Post Office compensation payment”.

(5) In regulation 46(4A)(7) (notional capital), after sub-paragraph (c) add—

“(d) a Post Office compensation payment;

(e) a vaccine damage payment.”.

(6) In regulation 72(9)(8) (non-dependant deductions), after sub-paragraph (bc) insert—

“(bd) any Post Office compensation payment;”.

(7) In paragraph 37 of Schedule 6 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1A)(9), after paragraph (c) add—

“(d) Post Office compensation payment.”;

(b) in each of sub-paragraphs (2) to (6)(10), for “or a Windrush payment” substitute “, a Windrush payment, a Post Office compensation payment or a vaccine damage payment”.

(8) In paragraph 25 of Schedule 7 (capital to be disregarded)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1A)(11), after “Windrush payment” insert “, a Post Office compensation payment or vaccine damage payment”;

(b) in each of sub-paragraphs (2) to (6)(12), for “or a Windrush payment” substitute “, a Windrush payment, a Post Office compensation payment or a vaccine damage payment”.

(1)

S.R. 2006 No. 405; relevant amending regulations are S.R. 2020 No. 108 and S.R. 2021 No. 345

(2)

The definition of “Grenfell Tower payment” was inserted by regulation 5(2)(a) of S.R. 2020 No. 108

(3)

[2019] EWHC 606 (QB)

(4)

Definition of “qualifying person” was amended by regulation 5(2)(b) of S.R. 2020 No. 108 and regulation 5(2)(b) of S.R. 2021 No. 345

(5)

Paragraph (7A) was inserted by regulation (5)(3)(c) of S.R. 2020 No. 108 and amended by regulation 5(3) of S.R. 2021 No. 345

(6)

Paragraph (6) was amended by regulation 5(4) of S.R. 2020 No. 108 and regulation 5(4) of S.R. 2021 No. 345

(7)

Paragraph (4A) was inserted by regulation 5(5)(c) of S.R. 2020 No. 108 and amended by regulation 5(5) of S.R. 2021 No. 345

(8)

Sub-paragraph (bc) was inserted by regulation 5(6) of S.R. 2021 No. 345

(9)

Paragraph (1A) was inserted by regulation 5(11)(b) of S.R. 2020 No. 108 and substituted by regulation 5(7)(a) of S.R. 2021 No. 345

(10)

Sub-paragraphs (2) to (6) were amended by regulation 5(11)(c) and (d) of S.R. 2020 No. 108 and regulation 5(7)(b) of S.R. 2021 No. 345

(11)

Sub-paragraph (1A) was inserted by regulation 5(12)(b)(ii) of S.R. 2020 No. 108 and amended by regulation 5(8)(a)(i) of S.R. 2021 No. 345

(12)

Sub-paragraphs (2) to (6) were amended by regulation 5(12)(b)(iii) and (iv) of S.R. 2020 No. 108 and amended by regulation 5(8)(a)(ii) of S.R. 2021 No. 345