Overview of the Act
- The Social Security (Additional Payments) Act 2022 makes provisions for the Means-tested Additional Payments and the Disability Additional Payment. The first is a £650 payment, paid in two payments, to those receiving at least 1p of a qualifying means-tested benefit. The Disability Additional Payment is a £150 payment for each individual who is receiving a qualifying disability benefit.
- The Act consists of eleven Sections:
- Providing for the Secretary of State or HMRC to make two Means-tested Additional Payments amounting to £650 to those who have a qualifying entitlement to a social security benefit or tax credit.
- Defining the qualifying entitlement to social security benefits or tax credits for the Means-tested Additional Payments, including the requirement for a minimum payment made in respect of the qualifying day.
- Dealing with the situation where there may be a qualifying entitlement to more than one social security benefit and/or tax credit.
- Defining the qualifying entitlement to tax credits for the Means-tested Additional Payments, including situations where HMRC finds that a person should have been entitled to an additional payment retrospectively.
- Providing for the Secretary of State to make a £150 Disability Additional Payment to an eligible person and dealing with the situation where a person may have a qualifying entitlement to more than one disability benefit.
- The administration of Additional Payments in reference to the social security benefit, tax credits, or disability benefit which conferred eligibility for the Additional Payment.
- Providing for the necessary sharing of information between the Secretary of State, HMRC, Scottish Ministers and Department for Communities in relation to Additional Payments.
- Providing that no account is taken of an Additional Payment in considering a person’s liability to tax, entitlement to a benefit under an enactment relating to social security or entitlement to tax credit.
- Interpretation of certain terms.
- Providing for regulations to be made which will be subject to the negative procedure of either House of Parliament.
- The extent, commencement, and short title of the Act.
