These Regulations amend the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1967), the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/207), the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1971) and the Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/1814). They also revoke the Social Security (Lone Parents) (Amendment) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/1790) (regulation 2).

In particular, these Regulations prescribe the circumstances in which the applicable amount of a claimant for council tax benefit, housing benefit, income support and income-based jobseeker’s allowance who is a lone parent, will include the lone parent rate of family premium (regulations 4, 9, 12 and 14).

These Regulations also provide that a lone parent who satisfies the relevant conditions in the period before these Regulations take effect, will requalify for the premium in income support and income-based jobseeker’s allowance following a break in the eligibility conditions of not more than 12 weeks (regulations 12 and 14).

These Regulations also make related amendments to those regulations which—

— disregard certain sums in the calculation of a lone parent’s earnings (regulations 5, 10, 13 and 15);

— change the conditions of entitlement of lone parents to an extended payment of housing benefit and council tax benefit (regulations 6 and 11);

— in council tax benefit, provide that students who are lone parents are not excluded from entitlement to that benefit (regulation 3) and in housing benefit, provide that students who are lone parents are treated as liable to make payments in respect of a dwelling (regulation 7) and that certain lone parents are excluded from reductions in eligible rent (regulation 8).

These Regulations have not been referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee pursuant to section 172(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (“the Administration Act”) as it appears to the Secretary of State that by reason of the urgency of the matter, it is inexpedient so to refer them (see section 173(1)(a) of the Administration Act). They shall be referred to the Committee as soon as practicable after the date on which they have been made (see section 173(2) of the Administration Act).

These Regulations do not impose a charge on business.