Where a person has been appointed under regulation 82(3) of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 or regulation 63(3) of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 by a relevant authority within the meaning of those Regulations to act on behalf of another in relation to a benefit claim or award, the Secretary of State may, if the person agrees, treat him as if he had appointed him under paragraph (1).

Where a natural person over the age of 18 has been appointed by the Scottish Ministers under a qualifying appointment pursuant to the 2018 Scotland Act in connection with the determination of assistance under section 24 of that Act (whether or not including an appointment to receive assistance on behalf of the individual), the Secretary of State may, if the person agrees, treat that person as if she had appointed them under paragraph (1).

Anything required by these regulations to be done by or to any person who is for the time being unable to act may be done by or to the receiver, F33judicial factor or guardian, if any, or by or to the person appointed under this regulation or regulation 43 F3(disability living allowance for a child) and F25a direct credit transfer under regulation 21 into the account of any person so appointed, or the receipt by him of a payment made by some other means, shall be a good discharge to the Secretary of State F10or the Board for any sum paid.

F23Except in a case to which paragraph (2) applies, the Secretary of State F17or the Board may direct that benefit shall be paid, wholly or in part, to F6another natural person on the beneficiary's behalf if such a direction as to payment appears to the Secretary of State F17or the Board to be necessary for protecting the interests of the beneficiary, or any child or dependant in respect of whom benefit is payable.

The Secretary of State may direct that a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance shall be paid wholly or in part to a natural person who is not the member of the joint-claim couple who is the nominated member for the purposes of section 3B of the Jobseekers Act if such a direction as to payment appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary for protecting the interests of the other member of that couple or, as the case may be, both members of that couple.

F43F5... Deductions may be made from benefit and direct payments may be made to third parties on behalf of a beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 9 F21and Schedule 9B.

Where a social fund payment for maternity or funeral expenses F2or expenses for heating which appear to the Secretary of State to have been or to be likely to be incurred in cold weather is made, wholly or in part, in respect of a debt which is, or will be, due to a third person, the F29payment may be, and in the case of funeral expenses shall be, made to that person and where an instrument of payment is made payable to that person it may be sent to the beneficiary.

F7Except where a wife has elected in accordance with regulation 6A of the Social Security (Guardian’s Allowances) Regulations 1975 (prescribed manner of making an election under section 77(9) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992) that guardian’s allowance is not to be paid to her husband, where one of a married or unmarried couple residing together is entitled to child benefitF8, F9F19working families' tax credit, F20disabled persons' tax credit or guardian’s allowance the Secretary of State F18or the Board may make arrangements whereby that benefit, as well as being payable to the person entitled to it, may, in the alternative, be paid to that person's partner on behalf of the person entitled.