Fuel costsE+W+S
8.—(1) This paragraph applies where the following condition is met.
(2) The condition is that in any assessment period the claimant is in debt for any item of mains gas or mains electricity, including any charges for the reconnection of gas or disconnection or reconnection of electricity (“fuel item”).
(3) Where this paragraph applies, but subject to sub-paragraphs (5) and (6), the Secretary of State may, in such cases and circumstances as the Secretary of State may determine, deduct in relation to that assessment period the following amounts from the claimant's award and pay them to the person to whom the payment is due.
(4) The amount which may be deducted in respect of any fuel item is—
(a)an amount equal to 5% of the standard allowance; and
(b)an additional amount which the Secretary of State estimates is equal to the average monthly cost necessary to meet the claimant's continuing need for that fuel item, except where current consumption is paid for by other means such as a pre-payment meter.
(5) Before the Secretary of State may commence (or re-commence) making deductions in respect of such a debt, the claimant's earned income (or in the case of joint claimants their combined earned income) in relation to the previous assessment period must not exceed the work allowance.
(6) The Secretary of State must stop making such deductions if, in relation to the three assessment periods immediately preceding the date on which the next deduction could otherwise be made, the claimant's earned income (or in the case of joint claimants their combined earned income) equals or exceeds the work allowance.
(7) As between liabilities for items of gas or electricity, the Secretary of State must give priority to whichever liability the Secretary of State considers it would, having regard to the circumstances and to any requests of the claimant, be appropriate to discharge.