SCHEDULE 6DEDUCTIONS FROM BENEFIT AND DIRECT PAYMENT TO THIRD PARTIES

Limitations applicable to deductions made under this Schedule3

1

The Secretary of State may not deduct an amount from a claimant’s award of universal credit under this Schedule and pay that amount to a third party if, in relation to any assessment period, that would—

a

reduce the amount payable to the claimant to less than one penny; or

b

result in more than three deductions being made, in relation to that assessment period, under one or more of the provisions mentioned in sub-paragraph (2).

2

The provisions are—

a

paragraph 6 (housing costs) of this Schedule;

b

paragraph 7 (rent and service charges included in rent) of this Schedule;

c

paragraph 8 (fuel costs) of this Schedule;

d

paragraph 9 (water charges) of this Schedule;

e

paragraph 10 (payments in place of payments of child support maintenance) of this Schedule;

f

paragraph 11 (eligible loans) of this Schedule;

g

paragraph 12 (integration loans) of this Schedule;

h

regulation 3 (deductions from income support etc.) of the Community Charges Regulations;

i

regulation 3 (deductions from income support etc.) of the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations;

j

regulation 5 (deduction from debtor’s income support etc.) of the Council Tax Regulations80; and

k

regulation 4 (deductions from offender’s income support etc.) of the Fines Regulations81.

3

The aggregate amount deducted from a claimant’s award of universal credit in relation to any assessment period and paid to a third party under paragraphs 8 (fuel costs) and 9 (water charges) of this Schedule must not, without the claimant’s consent, exceed a sum equal to five times 5% of the aggregate of the standard allowance and any child element.