The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006

PART 3 E+W+S Premiums

4.  Except as provided in paragraph 5, the premiums specified in Part 4 of this Schedule shall, for the purposes of regulations 22(d) and 23(e), be applicable to a claimant who satisfies the condition specified in paragraphs 8 to 17 in respect of that premium. E+W+S

5.  Subject to paragraph 6, where a claimant satisfies the conditions in respect of more than one premium in this Part of this Schedule, only one premium shall be applicable to him and, if they are different amounts, the higher or highest amount shall apply. E+W+S

6.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the following premiums, namely— E+W+S

(a) a severe disability premium to which paragraph 14 applies;

(b) an enhanced disability premium to which paragraph 15 applies;

(c) a disabled child premium to which paragraph 16 applies; and

(d) a carer premium to which paragraph 17 applies,

may be applicable in addition to any other premium which may apply under this Schedule.

(2) An enhanced disability premium in respect of a person shall not be applicable in addition to—

(a) a pensioner premium under paragraph 9 or 10; or

(b) a higher pensioner premium under paragraph 11.

7.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), for the purposes of this Part of this Schedule, once a premium is applicable to a claimant under this Part, a person shall be treated as being in receipt of any benefit for— E+W+S

(a) in the case of a benefit to which the Social Security (Overlapping Benefits) Regulations 1979 M1 applies, any period during which, apart from the provisions of those Regulations, he would be in receipt of that benefit; and

(b) any period spent by a person in undertaking a course of training or instruction provided or approved by the Secretary of State under section 2 of the 1973 Act, or by Scottish Enterprise or Highlands and Islands Enterprise under section 2 of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 M2 or for any period during which he is in receipt of a training allowance.

(2) For the purposes of the carer premium under paragraph 17, a person shall be treated as being in receipt of carer's allowance by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)(a) only if and for so long as the person in respect of whose care the allowance has been claimed remains in receipt of attendance allowance, or the care component of disability living allowance at the highest or middle rate prescribed in accordance with section 72(3) of the Act.

Marginal Citations

M1 S.I. 1979/597.

M2 1990 c. 35.

Bereavement premium E+W+S

F1 8.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 3 para. 8 heading revoked (1.10.2007) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 5) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2618), reg. 1(1), Sch.

Pensioner Premium for persons under 75 E+W+S

9.  The condition is that the claimant—

(a) is a single claimant or lone parent aged not less than 60 but less than 75; or

(b) has a partner and is, or his partner is, aged not less than 60 but less than 75.

Pensioner Premium for persons 75 and over E+W+S

10.  The condition is that the claimant—

(a) is a single claimant or lone parent aged not less than 75 but less than 80; or

(b) has a partner and is, or his partner is, aged not less than 75 but less than 80.

Higher Pensioner Premium E+W+S

11.—(1) Where the claimant is a single claimant or a lone parent, the condition is that—

(a) he is aged not less than 80; or

(b) he is aged less than 80 but not less than 60, and—

(i) the additional condition specified in paragraph 13(1)(a) is satisfied; or

(ii) the claimant was in receipt of, or was treated as being in receipt of, housing benefit and the disability premium was or, as the case may be, would have been, applicable to him in respect of a benefit week within 8 weeks of his 60th birthday and he has, subject to sub-paragraph (3), remained continuously in receipt of housing benefit since attaining that age.

(2) Where the claimant has a partner, the condition is that—

(a) he or his partner is aged not less than 80; or

(b) he or his partner is aged less than 80 but not less than 60 and either—

(i) the additional condition specified in paragraph 13(1)(a) is satisfied; or

(ii) the claimant was in receipt of, or was treated as being in receipt of, housing benefit and the disability premium was or, as the case may be, would have been, applicable to him in respect of a benefit week within 8 weeks of his 60th birthday and he has, subject to sub-paragraph (3), remained continuously in receipt of housing benefit since attaining that age.

(3) For the purposes of this paragraph and paragraph 13—

(a) once the higher pensioner premium is applicable to a claimant, if he then ceases, for a period of 8 weeks or less, to be entitled to or treated as entitled to housing benefit, he shall, on becoming re-entitled to housing benefit, thereafter be treated as having been continuously entitled to that benefit;

(b) where sub-paragraphs (1)(b)(ii) and (2)(b)(ii) apply, if a claimant ceases to be entitled to or treated as entitled to housing benefit for a period not exceeding 8 weeks which includes his 60th birthday, he shall, on becoming re-entitled to housing benefit, thereafter be treated as having been continuously entitled to that benefit.

(c) where the claimant or his partner—

(i) was entitled to council tax benefit or, as the case may be, community charge benefit at any time in the period of 8 weeks before becoming entitled or re-entitled to housing benefit; and

(ii) satisfied the conditions in respect of the higher pensioner premium under paragraphs 11 and 13 of Schedule 1 to the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 or, as the case may be, paragraphs 11 and 13 of Schedule 1 to the Community Charge Benefits (General) Regulations 1989 M3 ,

for the purpose of establishing entitlement or re-entitlement to housing benefit, he or his partner shall be treated as satisfying the equivalent conditions for higher pensioner premium under this paragraph and paragraph 13.

(4) In the case of a claimant who is a welfare to work beneficiary, references in sub-paragraphs (1)(b)(ii), (2)(b)(ii), (3)(b) and (3)(c)(i) to a period of 8 weeks shall be treated as references to a period of [F2 104 weeks].

(5) A person is a welfare to work beneficiary if he is a person—

(a) to whom regulation 13A(1) of the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) (General) Regulations 1995 M4 applies; and

(b) who again becomes incapable of work for the purposes of Part 12A of the Act.

(6) For the purposes of this paragraph, a claimant shall be treated as having been entitled to and in receipt of housing benefit throughout any period which comprises only days on which he was participating in an employment zone programme and was not entitled to that benefit because, as a consequence of his participation in that programme, he failed to satisfy the condition in section 130(1)(c) of the Act.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in Sch. 3 para. 11(4) substituted (9.10.2006) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2378), regs. 1(7), 15(5)

Marginal Citations

M3 S.I. 1989/1321.

M4 S.I. 1995/311; relevant amending Instruments are S.I. 1998/2231 and 1999/3109.

Disability Premium E+W+S

12.  The condition is that—

(a) where the claimant is a single claimant or a lone parent, he is aged less than 60 and the additional condition specified in paragraph 13 is satisfied; or

(b) where the claimant has a partner, either—

(i) the claimant is aged less than 60 and the additional condition specified in paragraph 13(1)(a) or (b) is satisfied by him; or

(ii) his partner is aged less than 60 and the additional condition specified in paragraph 13(1)(a) is satisfied by his partner.

Additional Condition for the Higher Pensioner and Disability Premiums E+W+S

13.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) and paragraph 7, the additional condition referred to in paragraphs 11 and 12 is that either—

(a) the claimant or, as the case may be, his partner—

(i) is in receipt of one or more of the following benefits: attendance allowance, disability living allowance, the disability element or the severe disability element of working tax credit as specified in regulation 20(1)(b) and (f) of the Working Tax Credit Regulations, mobility supplement, long-term incapacity benefit under Part 2 of the Act or severe disablement allowance under Part 3 of the Act but, in the case of long-term incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance only where it is paid in respect of him; or

(ii) was in receipt of long-term incapacity benefit under Part 2 of the Act when entitlement to that benefit ceased on account of the payment of a retirement pension under that Act and the claimant has since remained continuously entitled to housing benefit and, if the long-term incapacity benefit was payable to his partner, the partner is still a member of the family; or

(iii) F3 ...was in receipt of attendance allowance or disability living allowance but payment of benefit has been suspended in accordance with regulations made under section 113(2) of the Act or otherwise abated as a consequence of the claimant or his partner becoming a patient within the meaning of [F4 regulation 28(11)(e) (treatment of child care charges)]; or

(iv) is provided by the Secretary of State with an invalid carriage or other vehicle under section 5(2) of the National Health Service Act 1977 M5 (other services) or, in Scotland by the Scottish Ministers, under section 46 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 M6 (provision of services) or receives payments by way of grant from the Secretary of State under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Act of 1977 (additional provisions as to vehicles) or, in Scotland by the Scottish Ministers, under section 46 of the Act of 1978; or

(v) is blind and in consequence registered in a register compiled by a local authority under section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948 M7 (welfare services) or, in Scotland, has been certified as blind and in consequence he is registered in a register maintained by or on behalf of a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994 M8 ; or

(b) the claimant—

(i) is, or is treated as, incapable of work in accordance with the provisions of, and regulations made under, Part 12A of the Act (incapacity for work); and

(ii) has been incapable, or has been treated as incapable, of work for a continuous period of not less than—

(aa) in the case of a claimant who is terminally ill within the meaning of section 30B(4) of the Act M9 , 196 days;

(bb) in any other case, 364 days.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(a)(v), a person who has ceased to be registered as blind on regaining his eyesight shall nevertheless be treated as blind and as satisfying the additional condition set out in that sub-paragraph for a period of 28 weeks following the date on which he ceased to be so registered.

(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b), once the higher pensioner premium or the disability premium is applicable to a claimant by virtue of his satisfying the additional condition specified in that provision, if he then ceases, for a period of 8 weeks or less, to be treated as incapable of work or to be incapable of work he shall, on again becoming so incapable of work, immediately thereafter be treated as satisfying the condition in sub-paragraph (1)(b).

(4) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (1)(a)(ii) and (iii), once the higher pensioner premium is applicable to the claimant by virtue of his satisfying the condition specified in that provision, if he then ceases, for a period of 8 weeks or less, to be entitled to housing benefit, he shall on again becoming so entitled to housing benefit, immediately thereafter be treated as satisfying the condition in sub-paragraph (1)(a)(ii) and (iii).

(5) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b), once the disability premium is applicable to a claimant by virtue of his satisfying the additional condition specified in that provision, he shall continue to be treated as satisfying that condition for any period spent by him in undertaking a course of training provided under section 2 of the 1973 Act M10 or for any period during which he is in receipt of a training allowance.

(6) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b), where any two or more periods of incapacity are separated by a break of not more than 56 days, those periods shall be treated as one continuous period.

(7) For the purposes of this paragraph, a reference to a person who is or was in receipt of long-term incapacity benefit includes a person who is or was in receipt of short-term incapacity benefit at a rate equal to the long-term rate by virtue of section 30B(4)(a) of the Act (short-term incapacity benefit for a person who is terminally ill), or who would be or would have been in receipt of short-term incapacity benefit at such a rate but for the fact that the rate of short-term incapacity benefit already payable to him is or was equal to or greater than the long-term rate.

(8) In the case of a claimant who is a welfare to work beneficiary within the meaning of paragraph 11(5)—

(a) the reference to a period of 8 weeks in sub-paragraph (3); and

(b) the reference to a period of 56 days in sub-paragraph (6),

shall in each case be treated as a reference to a period of [F5 104 weeks] .

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in Sch. 3 para. 13(1)(a)(iii) omitted by virtue of S.I. 2005/2502, reg. 2(15)(a)(i) (as amended) (3.4.2006) by virtue of The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/217), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 27(15)(b)(i) (with regs. 2, 3, Sch. 3, Sch. 4)

F4 Words in Sch. 3 para. 13(1)(a)(iii) substituted by S.I. 2005/2502, reg. 2(15)(a)(ii) (as amended) (3.4.2006) by The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/217), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 27(15)(b)(ii) (with regs. 2, 3, Sch. 3, Sch. 4)

F5 Words in Sch. 3 para. 13(8) substituted (9.10.2006) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2378), regs. 1(7), 15(5)

Marginal Citations

M5 1977 c. 49; section 5(2) was amended subsection (2A) added by the Public Health Laboratory Services Act 1979 (c. 23), section 1, and subsection (2B) added by section 9 of the Health and Social Security Act 1984 (c. 48).

M6 1978 c. 29.

M7 1948 c. 29; section 29 was amended by the National Assistance (Amendment) Act 1959 (c. 30), section 1(2); the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960 (c. 61), sections 113(1) and 114 of and Schedule 4 to the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (c. 49), section 95(2) and Schedule 9 Part 1; the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), sections 195(6), 272(1), Schedule 23 paragraph 2 and Schedule 30; the Employment and Training Act 1973 (c. 50), section 14(1) and Schedule 3 paragraph 3; the National Health Service Act 1977 (c. 49), section 129 and Schedule 15 paragraph 6; the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983 (c. 41), section 30 and Schedule 10 Part I; the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) section 108(5) and Schedule 13 paragraph 11(2); and the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19), section 44(7).

M8 1994 c. 39. Section 2 was amended by the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25), Schedule 22, paragraph 232(1).

M9 Section 30B was inserted by the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994(c. 18), section 2.

M10 1973 c. 50; section 2 was amended by the Employment Act 1988 (c. 19), section 25(1); the Employment Act 1989 (c. 38), Part I, Schedule 7; and the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993 (c. 19),section 47(1).

Severe Disability Premium E+W+S

14.—(1) The condition is that the claimant is a severely disabled person.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), a claimant shall be treated as being a severely disabled person if, and only if—

(a) in the case of a single claimant, a lone parent or a claimant who is treated as having no partner in consequence of sub-paragraph (3)—

(i) he is in receipt of attendance allowance, or the care component of disability living allowance at the highest or middle rate prescribed in accordance with section 72(3) of the Act; and

(ii) subject to sub-paragraph (4), he has no non-dependants aged 18 or over normally residing with him or with whom he is normally residing; and

(iii) no person is entitled to, and in receipt of, a carer's allowance under section 70 of the Act in respect of caring for him;

(b) in the case of a claimant who has a partner—

(i) the claimant is in receipt of attendance allowance, or the care component of disability living allowance at the highest or middle rate prescribed in accordance with section 72(3) of the Act; and

(ii) his partner is also in receipt of such an allowance or, if he is a member of a polygamous marriage, all the partners of that marriage are in receipt of such an allowance; and

(iii) subject to sub-paragraph (4), the claimant has no non-dependants aged 18 or over normally residing with him or with whom he is normally residing,

and either a person is entitled to or in receipt of a carer's allowance in respect of caring for only one of a couple or, in the case of a polygamous marriage, for one or more but not all the partners of the marriage, or as the case may be, no person is entitled to and in receipt of such an allowance in respect of caring for either member of a couple or any partner of a polygamous marriage.

(3) Where a claimant has a partner who does not satisfy the condition in sub-paragraph (2)(b)(ii), and that partner is blind or is treated as blind within the meaning of paragraph 13(1)(a)(v) and (2), that partner shall be treated for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) as if he were not a partner of the claimant.

(4) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(a)(ii) and (2)(b)(iii) no account shall be taken of—

(a) a person receiving attendance allowance, or the care component of disability living allowance at the highest or middle rate prescribed in accordance with section 72(3) of the Act; or

(b) a person who is blind or is treated as blind within the meaning of paragraph 13(1)(a)(v) and (2).

(5) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(b) a person shall be treated—

(a) as being in receipt of attendance allowance, or the care component of disability living allowance at the highest or middle rate prescribed in accordance with section 72(3) of the Act, if he would, but for his being a patient for a period exceeding 28 days, be so in receipt;

(b) as being entitled to and in receipt of a carer's allowance if he would, but for the person for whom he was caring being a patient in hospital for a period exceeding 28 days, be so entitled and in receipt.

(6) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(a)(iii) and (2)(b), no account shall be taken of an award of carer's allowance to the extent that payment of such an award is backdated for a period before [F6 the date on which the award is first paid].

(7) In sub-paragraph (2)(a)(iii) and (b), references to a person being in receipt of a carer's allowance shall include references to a person who would have been in receipt of that allowance but for the application of a restriction under section 7 of the Social Security Fraud Act 2001 M11 (loss of benefit provisions).

Textual Amendments

F6 Words in Sch. 3 para. 14(6) substituted (2.4.2007) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/719), regs. 1(2), 6(6)

Marginal Citations

M11 2001 c. 11; section 7 was amended by the State Pension Credit Act 2002, section 14 and Schedule 2 and by the Tax Credits Act 2002, section 60 and Schedule 6.

Enhanced disability premium E+W+S

15.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the condition is that the care component of disability living allowance is, or would, but for a suspension of benefit in accordance with regulations under section 113(2) of the Act or but for an abatement as a consequence of hospitalisation, be payable at the highest rate prescribed under section 72(3) of the Act in respect of—

(a) the claimant; or

(b) a member of the claimant's family,

who is aged less than 60.

(2) An enhanced disability premium shall not be applicable in respect of—

(a) a claimant who—

(i) is not a member of a couple or a polygamous marriage; and

(ii) is a patient within the meaning of [F7 regulation 28(11)(e)] and has been for a period of more than 52 weeks; or

(b) a member of a couple or a polygamous marriage where each member is a patient within the meaning of regulation 24(2) and has been for a period of more than 52 weeks.

Textual Amendments

F7 Words in Sch. 3 para. 15(2)(a)(ii) substituted by S.I. 2005/2502, reg. 2(15)(b) (as amended) (3.4.2006) by The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/217), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 27(15)(c) (with regs. 2, 3, Sch. 3, Sch. 4)

Disabled child premium E+W+S

16.  The condition is that a child or young person for whom the claimant or a partner of his is responsible and who is a member of the claimant's household—

(a) is in receipt of disability living allowance or is no longer in receipt of such allowance because he is a patient, provided that the child or young person continues to be a member of the family; or

(b) is blind or treated as blind within the meaning of paragraph 13; or

(c) is a child or young person in respect of whom section 145A of the Act M12 (entitlement to child benefit after death of child) applies for the purposes of entitlement to child benefit but only for the period prescribed under section 145A(1) of the Act and in respect of whom a disabled child premium was included in the claimant's applicable amount immediately before the death of that child.

Marginal Citations

M12 Section 145A was inserted by section 55 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21); and amended by the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), section 254 and Schedule 24, and paragraph 8.

Carer premium E+W+S

17.—(1) The condition is that the claimant or his partner is, or both of them are, entitled to a carer's allowance under section 70 of the Act.

(2) Where a carer premium is awarded but—

(a) the person in respect of whose care the carer's allowance has been awarded dies; or

(b) in any other case the person in respect of whom a carer premium has been awarded ceases to be entitled to a carer's allowance,

the condition for the award of the premium shall be treated as satisfied for a period of eight weeks from the relevant date specified in sub-paragraph (3).

(3) The relevant date for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) shall be—

(a) where sub-paragraph (2)(a) applies, the Sunday following the death of the person in respect of whose care a carer's allowance has been awarded or the date of death if the death occurred on a Sunday;

(b) in any other case, the date on which the person who has been entitled to a carer's allowance ceases to be entitled to that allowance.

(4) Where a person who has been entitled to a carer's allowance ceases to be entitled to that allowance and makes a claim for housing benefit, the condition for the award of the carer premium shall be treated as satisfied for a period of eight weeks from the date on which—

(a) the person in respect of whose care the carer's allowance has been awarded dies;

(b) in any other case, the person who has been entitled to a carer's allowance ceased to be entitled to that allowance.

Persons in receipt of concessionary payments E+W+S

18.  For the purpose of determining whether a premium is applicable to a person under paragraphs 13 to 17, any concessionary payment made to compensate that person for the non-payment of any benefit mentioned in those paragraphs shall be treated as if it were a payment of that benefit.

Person in receipt of benefit E+W+S

19.  For the purposes of this Part of this Schedule, a person shall be regarded as being in receipt of any benefit if, and only if, it is paid in respect of him and shall be so regarded only for any period in respect of which that benefit is paid.