Statutory Instruments
SOCIAL SECURITY
Made
13th March 2000
Laid before Parliament
13th March 2000
Coming into force
3rd April 2000
The Secretary of State for Social Security, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 138(2) and (4) and 175(1), (3) and (4) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992M1 and sections 5(1)(a) and (i), and 189(1) and (4) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992M2 and section 16(1) and section 79(1) and (4) of, and paragraph 3 of Schedule 5 to, the Social Security Act 1998M3 and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, after agreement by the Social Security Advisory Committee that proposals in respect of these Regulations should not be referred to itM4, hereby makes the following Regulations:
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Instrument applied (with modifications) (1.10.2010) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No. 2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1907), reg. 16(2)(e)(iii)(3) (with reg. 3)
Marginal Citations
M11992 c. 4; section 138(4) is an interpretation provision and is cited because of the meaning ascribed to the word “prescribed". Section 175(1) was amended by the Transfer of Functions Act 1999 (c. 11), Schedule 8, paragraph 41.
M4 See section 173(1)(b) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2000 and shall come into force on 3rd April 2000.
(2) In these Regulations—
[F1“care home” in England and Wales has the meaning assigned to it by section 3 of the Care Standards Act 2000, and in Scotland means a care home service as defined by [F2paragraph 2 of schedule 12 to the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010];]
[F3“couple” means—
a man and woman who are married to each other and are members of the same household;
a man and woman who are not married to each other but are living together as husband and wife;
two people of the same sex who are civil partners of each other and are members of the same household; or
two people of the same sex who are not civil partners of each other but are living together as if they were civil partners,
and for the purposes of paragraph (d), two people of the same sex are to be regarded as living together as if they were civil partners if, but only if, they would be regarded as living together as husband and wife were they instead two people of the opposite sex;;]
M5“free in-patient treatment" shall be construed in accordance with regulation [F42(4) and (5) of the Social Security (Hospital In-Patients) Regulations 2005];
[F5“income-related employment and support allowance” means an income-related allowance under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 (employment and support allowance);]
M6“Income Support Regulations" means the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 ;
[F6“independent hospital”—
in England, means a hospital as defined by section 275 of the National Health Service Act 2006 that is not a health service hospital as defined by that section;
in Wales, has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000; and
in Scotland, means an independent healthcare service as defined in [F7section 10F(1)(a) and (b) of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978];]
[F8“qualifying age for state pension credit” means—
in the case of a woman, pensionable age; or
in the case of a man, the age which is pensionable age in the case of a woman born on the same day as the man;]
“qualifying week" means in respect of any year the week beginning on the third Monday in the September of that year;
F9...
“partner" means a member of–
[F10a couple]; or
a polygamous marriage;
F9...
[F11“state pension credit” has the meaning assigned to it by section 1 of the State Pension Credit Act 2002;]
F12...
[F13(3) F14... in these Regulations a person—
(a)is in residential care if, disregarding any period of temporary absence, he resides in—
(i)[F15a care home;]
(ii)[F15an independent hospital; or]
(iv)accommodation provided under section 3(1) of the Polish Resettlement Act 1947 M7 (provision by the Secretary of State of accommodation in camps),
throughout the qualifying week and the period of 12 weeks immediately before the qualifying week;
(b)lives with another person if—
(i)disregarding any period of temporary absence, they share accommodation as their mutual home; and
(ii)they are not in residential care.]
F16(3A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference—
(a)to a numbered regulation is to the regulation in these Regulations bearing that number; and
(b)in a regulation to a numbered paragraph is to the paragraph in that regulation bearing that number.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in reg. 1(2) inserted (24.10.2005) by The Social Security (Care Homes and Independent Hospitals) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2687), regs. 1, 8(2)(a)(ii)
F2Words in reg. 1(2) substituted (28.10.2011) by The Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (Consequential Modifications of Enactments) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/2581), art. 1(2)(b), Sch. 2 para. 29(a)
F3Words in reg. 1(2) inserted (5.12.2005) by The Civil Partnership (Pensions, Social Security and Child Support) (Consequential, etc. Provisions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2877), art. 1, Sch. 3 para. 32(a) (with art. 3)
F4Words in reg. 1(2) substituted (10.4.2006) by The Social Security (Hospital In-Patients) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3360), regs. 1(a), 7
F5Words in reg. 1(2) inserted (27.10.2008) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Consequential Provisions) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1554), regs. 1(2)(b), 7(2)
F6Words in reg. 1(2) substituted (1.10.2010) by The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Miscellaneous Consequential Amendments) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1881), arts. 1(1), 10
F7Words in reg. 1(2) substituted (28.10.2011) by The Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (Consequential Modifications of Enactments) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/2581), art. 1(2)(b), Sch. 2 para. 29(b)
F8Words in reg. 1(2) inserted (6.4.2010) by The Social Security (Equalisation of State Pension Age) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1488), regs. 1, 19(2)
F9Words in reg. 1(2) omitted (24.10.2005) by virtue of The Social Security (Care Homes and Independent Hospitals) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2687), regs. 1, 8(2)(a)(i)
F10Words in reg. 1(2) substituted (5.12.2005) by The Civil Partnership (Pensions, Social Security and Child Support) (Consequential, etc. Provisions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2877), art. 1, Sch. 3 para. 32(b) (with art. 3)
F11Words in reg. 1 inserted (20.9.2004) by The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2154), regs. 1, 2(a)
F12Words in reg. 1(2) omitted (13.11.2000) by virtue of The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2864), regs. 1, 2(a)(i)
F13Reg. 1(3)(3A) substituted (2.11.2001) by The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3375), regs. 1, 2(2)
F14Words in reg. 1(3) omitted (24.10.2005) by virtue of The Social Security (Care Homes and Independent Hospitals) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2687), regs. 1, 8(2)(b)(i)
F15Reg. 1(3)(a)(i)(ii) substituted for (24.10.2005) by The Social Security (Care Homes and Independent Hospitals) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2687), regs. 1, 8(2)(b)(ii)
F16Reg. 1(3A) omitted (24.10.2005) by virtue of The Social Security (Care Homes and Independent Hospitals) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2687), regs. 1, 8(2)(c)
Marginal Citations
M5S.I. 1975/555; regulation 2(2) was substituted by S.I. 1992/2595.
M71947 c. 19; section 3(1) was amended by the Ministry of Social Security Act 1966 (c. 20), section 39(1) and Schedule 6, paragraph 3(1) and the Social Security Act 1980 (c. 30), section 20(1) and Schedule 4, paragraph 1(1)(a).
[F172.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) and regulation 3 of these Regulations, and regulation 36(2) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987, the Secretary of State shall pay to a person who—
(a)in respect of any day falling within the qualifying week is ordinarily resident in Great Britain; and
(b)[F18in or before the qualifying week has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit,]
a winter fuel payment of—
(i)£200 unless he is in residential care or head (ii)(aa) applies; or
(ii)£100 if [F19state pension credit][F20, an income-based jobseeker's allowance or an income-related employment and support allowance] has not been, nor falls to be, paid to him in respect of the qualifying week and he is—
(aa)in that week living with a person to whom a payment under these Regulations has been, or falls to be, made in respect of the winter following the qualifying week; or
(bb) in residential care.
(2) Where such a person has attained the age of 80 in or before the qualifying week—
(a)in paragraph (1)(i), for the sum of £200 there shall be substituted the sum of £300; and
(b)[F21in paragraph (1)(ii), for the sum of £100 there shall be substituted the sum of £200, except that—
(i)where he is in that week living with a person to whom a payment under these Regulations has been, or falls to be, made in respect of the winter following that week who has also attained the age of 80 in or before that week, or
(ii)where he is in residential care,
there shall be substituted the sum of £150.]
(3) Where such a person has not attained the age of 80 in or before the qualifying week but he is a partner of and living with a person who has done so, in paragraph (1)(i) for the sum of £200 there shall be substituted the sum of £300.]
Textual Amendments
F17Reg. 2 substituted (1.9.2003) by The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1737), regs. 1, 2
F18Reg. 2(1)(b) substituted (6.4.2010) by The Social Security (Equalisation of State Pension Age) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1488), regs. 1, 20(2)
F19Words in reg. 2(1)(ii) substituted (20.9.2004) by The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2154), regs. 1, 2(b)
F20Words in reg. 2(1)(b)(ii) substituted (27.10.2008) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Consequential Provisions) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1554), regs. 1(2)(b), 7(3)
F21Reg. 2(2)(b) substituted (3.9.2003) by The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2192), regs. 1, 2
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C2Reg. 2 applied (with modifications) (15.9.2008) by The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment (Temporary Increase) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1778), regs. 1, 2
C3Reg. 2 applied (with modifications) (21.9.2009) by The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment (Temporary Increase) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1489), regs. 1(2), 2(1)
C4Reg. 2 applied (with modifications) (20.9.2010) by The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment (Temporary Increase) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1161), regs. 1(2), 2
3.—(1) Regulation 2 shall not apply in respect of a person who—
(a)is [F22throughout the qualifying week] —
[F23(i)a partner of, and living with, a person who attained the qualifying age for state pension credit in or before the qualifying week and to whom state pension credit, an income-based jobseeker’s allowance or an income-related employment and support allowance has been, or falls to be, paid in respect of the qualifying week;]
(ii)receiving free in-patient treatment and has been receiving free in-patient treatment for more than 52 weeks; or
(iii)detained in custody under a sentence imposed by a court; or
(b)subject to paragraph (2), has not made a claim for a winter fuel payment [F24on or before the 31st March] following the qualifying week in respect of the winter following that week.
(2) Paragraph (1)(b) shall not apply where—
(a)a payment has been made by virtue of regulation 4(1) [F25on or before the 31st March] following the qualifying week in respect of the winter following that week; or
(b)regulation 4(2) applies.
Textual Amendments
F22Words in reg. 3(1)(a) substituted (1.4.2012) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/757), regs. 1(4), 18(2)
F23Reg. 3(1)(a)(i) substituted (6.4.2010) by The Social Security (Equalisation of State Pension Age) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1488), regs. 1, 21(2)
F24Words in reg. 3(1)(b) substituted (1.4.2012) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/757), regs. 1(4), 18(3)
F25Words in reg. 3(2)(a) substituted (1.4.2012) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/757), regs. 1(4), 18(3)
4.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of State may [F26on or before the 31st March] of the year following the year in which the qualifying week falls make a winter fuel payment under regulation 2 in respect of the preceding winter to a person who (disregarding regulation 3(b)) appears from official records held by the Secretary of State to be entitled to a payment under that regulation.
(2) Where a person becomes entitled to income support[F27, state pension credit or an income-related employment and support allowance] in respect of the qualifying week by virtue of a decision made after that week that section 115 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (exclusions) ceases to apply to him the Secretary of State shall make a winter fuel payment to that person under regulation 2 in respect of the winter following the qualifying week.
(3) Subject to paragraph (4), for the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2) official records held by the Secretary of State as to a person’s circumstances shall be sufficient evidence thereof for the purpose of deciding his entitlement to a winter fuel payment and its amount.
(4) Paragraph (3) shall not apply so as to exclude the revision of a decision under section 9 of the Social Security Act 1998 (revision of decisions) or the supersession of a decision under section 10 M8 of that Act (decisions superseding earlier decisions) or the consideration of fresh evidence in connection with the revision or supersession of a decision.
Textual Amendments
F26Words in reg. 4(1) substituted (1.4.2012) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/757), regs. 1(4), 18(3)
F27Words in reg. 4(2) substituted (27.10.2008) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Consequential Provisions) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1554), regs. 1(2)(b), 7(5)
Marginal Citations
M8Section 10 was amended by paragraph 23 of Schedule 7 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2).
5. The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 1998 M9, the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Amendment Regulations 1998 M10 and the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Amendment Regulations 1999 M11 are hereby revoked.
Signed by Authority of the Secretary of State for Social Security.
Angela Eagle
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,
Department of Social Security
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations provide for winter fuel payments to be made out of the social fund to persons who, in the third week of September in any year—
(a) are aged 60 or over;E+W+S
(b) are ordinarily resident in Great Britain;E+W+S
(c) satisfy the criteria in regulation 2; andE+W+S
(d) are not excluded by regulation 3.E+W+S
Regulation 4 provides for winter fuel payments to be made without the need for a claim to persons—
(a) whose entitlement thereto can be established from official records held by the Secretary of State; andE+W+S
(b) who are entitled to income support in the third week in September in a year by virtue of a decision made after that week that they are refugees.E+W+S
It further provides that decisions as to entitlement which are made without a claim may be made on the basis of official records but not so as to exclude the consideration of other evidence on a revision or supersession of that decision under the Social Security Act 1998.
Regulation 5 revokes legislation which has hitherto provided for social fund winter fuel payments.
These Regulations do not impose a charge on businesses.