Amendment of the Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 19924

1

The Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 199210 are amended as follows.

2

In Schedule 5 (capital to be disregarded), after paragraph 23 insert—

23A

1

An amount equal to any interim assistance grant paid by the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund for the purpose of relieving immediate need faced by the claimant arising in consequence of—

a

an injury he suffered in the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005 as a result of which he stayed at least one night in hospital, or

b

the death of a partner or close relative of his in, or as a result of, those attacks.

2

A disregard which applies by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) shall have effect only in relation to—

a

an award of council tax benefit during which the grant is paid, and

b

where that award is followed by one or more further awards of council tax benefit which begins immediately after the end of the previous award, such further award, provided that the claimant in respect of that further award—

i

is the person who received the grant, or

ii

ii)is the partner of that person, or was the partner of that person at the date of the latter’s death.

3

In sub-paragraph (1), “the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund” means the company limited by guarantee (number 5505072) and registered charity of that name established on 11th July 2005 for the purpose of (amongst other things) relieving sickness, disability or financial need of victims (including families or dependants of victims) of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005.

3

In Schedule 5ZA (capital to be disregarded)11, after paragraph 16 insert—

16A

1

An amount equal to any interim assistance grant paid by the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund for the purpose of relieving immediate need faced by the claimant arising in consequence of—

a

an injury he suffered in the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005 as a result of which he stayed at least one night in hospital, or

b

the death of a partner or close relative of his in, or as a result of, those attacks.

2

A disregard which applies by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) shall have effect only in relation to—

a

an award of council tax benefit during which the grant is paid, and

b

where that award is followed by one or more further awards of council tax benefit which begins immediately after the end of the previous award, such further award, provided that the claimant in respect of that further award—

i

is the person who received the grant, or

ii

ii)is the partner of that person, or was the partner of that person at the date of the latter’s death.

3

In sub-paragraph (1), “the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund” means the company limited by guarantee (number 5505072) and registered charity of that name established on 11th July 2005 for the purpose of (amongst other things) relieving sickness, disability or financial need of victims (including families or dependants of victims) of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005.

4

The amendment made by paragraph (3) is to the Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992 as modified in their application to persons to whom regulation 12(1) of the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations 2003 applies.