The Welfare Benefits Up-rating Order 2015
Citation and commencement1.
(1)
This Order may be cited as the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Order 2015.
(2)
Subject to paragraph (3), this Order shall come into force for the purposes of—
(a)
this article and article 2, on 1st April 2015;
(b)
article 3, on 6th April 2015;
(c)
(d)
article 5, on 5th April 2015;
(e)
article 6, in so far as it relates to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 6th April 2015, and for the purpose of this sub-paragraph “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the Income Support Regulations;
(f)
article 7, in relation to a case where rent is payable at intervals of a week or any multiple thereof, on 6th April 2015, and in relation to any other case, on 1st April 2015;
(g)
articles 8 and 9, in so far as they relate to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 6th April 2015, and for the purpose of this sub-paragraph “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the JSA Regulations 1996;
(h)
article 10, in so far as it relates to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 6th April 2015, and for the purpose of this sub-paragraph “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the JSA Regulations 2013;
(i)
article 11, in so far as it relates to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 6th April 2015, and for the purpose of this sub-paragraph “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the ESA Regulations 2008;
(j)
article 12, in so far as it relates to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 6th April 2015, and for the purpose of this sub-paragraph “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the ESA Regulations 2013;
(k)
(l)
article 14, on 5th May 2015.
(3)
In so far as articles 4, 10 and 12 relate to a beneficiary in favour of whom an award of universal credit is in force, those articles shall come into force for the purposes of determining the beneficiary’s unearned income in relation to that award on the same day as article 13 comes into force for that beneficiary.
Interpretation2.
In this Order—
Statutory Sick Pay3.
Statutory Maternity Pay4.
Ordinary and Additional Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay and Statutory Shared Parental Pay5.
(1)
(a)
in regulation 2(a) (weekly rate of payment of statutory paternity pay) for “£138.18” substitute “£139.58”; and
(b)
in regulation 3(a) (weekly rate of payment of statutory adoption pay) for “£138.18” substitute “£139.58”.
(2)
(3)
Applicable amounts for Income Support6.
Housing Benefit7.
Increase in age-related amounts of contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance8.
(a)
in sub-paragraph (a) for “£57.35” substitute “£57.90”; and
(b)
in sub-paragraph (c) for “£72.40” substitute “£73.10”.
Applicable amounts for the JSA Regulations 19969.
Amounts for the JSA Regulations 201310.
(a)
in paragraph (1)(a) for “£57.35” substitute “£57.90”; and
(b)
in paragraph (1)(b) for “£72.40” substitute “£73.10”.
Amounts for the ESA Regulations 200811.
(1)
(2)
Prescribed amounts for the ESA Regulations 201312.
(1)
(a)
in paragraph (1)(a) and (b)(i) for “£72.40” substitute “£73.10”;
(b)
in paragraph (1)(b)(ii) for “£57.35” substitute “£57.90”; and
(c)
in paragraph (2)(a) for “£28.75” substitute “£29.05”.
(2)
(a)
in paragraph (1)(a)(i) and (ii)(aa) for “£72.40” substitute “£73.10”; and
(b)
in paragraph (1)(a)(ii)(bb) for “£57.35” substitute “£57.90”.
Amounts of certain elements for the Universal Credit Regulations 201313.
Revocation14.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
SCHEDULE 1PARAGRAPH 1 OF PART I OF SCHEDULE 2 TO THE INCOME SUPPORT REGULATIONS AS AMENDED BY THIS ORDER
PART IPERSONAL ALLOWANCES
1.
The weekly amounts specified in column (2) below in respect of each person or couple specified in column (1) shall be the weekly amounts specified for the purposes of regulations 17(1) and 18(1) (applicable amounts and polygamous marriages)—
(1) | (2) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Person or Couple | Amount | |||||
(1)28 Single claimant aged— | (1) | |||||
(a) | except where head (b) or (c) of this sub-paragraph applies, less than 18; | (a) | £57.90; | |||
(b) | less than 18 who falls within any of the circumstances specified in paragraph 1A29; | (b) | £57.90; | |||
(c) | less than 18 who satisfies the condition in paragraph 11(1)(a); | (c) | £57.90; | |||
(d) | not less than 18 but less than 25; | (d) | £57.90; | |||
(e) | not less than 25. | (e) | £73.10. | |||
(2) Lone parent aged— | (2) | |||||
(a) | except where head (b) or (c) of this sub-paragraph applies, less than 18; | (a) | £57.90; | |||
(b) | less than 18 who falls within any of the circumstances specified in paragraph 1A; | (b) | £57.90; | |||
(c) | less than 18 who satisfies the condition in paragraph 11(1)(a); | (c) | £57.90; | |||
(d) | not less than 18. | (d) | £73.10. | |||
(3)30 Couple— | (3) | |||||
(a) | where both members are aged less than 18 and— | (a) | £87.50; | |||
(i) | at least one of them is treated as responsible for a child; or | |||||
(ii) | had they not been members of a couple, each would have qualified for income support under regulation 4ZA or income-related employment and support allowance; or | |||||
(iii) | the claimant’s partner satisfies the requirements of section 3(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (prescribed circumstances for persons aged 16 but less than 18); or | |||||
(iv) | there is in force in respect of the claimant’s partner a direction under section 16 of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (persons under 18: severe hardship); | |||||
(b) | where both members are aged less than 18 and head (a) does not apply but one member of the couple falls within any of the circumstances specified in paragraph 1A; | (b) | £57.90; | |||
(c) | where both members are aged less than 18 and heads (a) and (b) do not apply; | (c) | £57.90; | |||
(d) | where both members are aged not less than 18; | (d) | £114.85; | |||
(e) | where one member is aged not less than 18 and the other member is a person under 18 who— | (e) | £114.85; | |||
(i) | qualifies for income support under regulation 4ZA or income-related employment and support allowance, or who would so qualify if he were not a member of a couple; or | |||||
(ii) | satisfies the requirements of section 3(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (prescribed circumstances for persons aged 16 but less than 18); or | |||||
(iii) | is the subject of a direction under section 16 of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (persons under 18: severe hardship); | |||||
(f) | where the claimant is aged not less than 18 but less than 25 and his partner is a person under 18 who— | (f) | £57.90; | |||
(i) | would not qualify for income support under regulation 4ZA or income-related employment and support allowance if he were not a member of a couple; and | |||||
(ii) | does not satisfy the requirements of section 3(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (prescribed circumstances for persons aged 16 but less than 18); and | |||||
(iii) | is not the subject of a direction under section 16 of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (persons under 18: severe hardship); | |||||
(g) | where the claimant is aged not less than 25 and his partner is a person under 18 who— | (g) | £73.10. | |||
(i) | would not qualify for income support under regulation 4ZA or income-related employment and support allowance if he were not a member of a couple; and | |||||
(ii) | does not satisfy the requirements of section 3(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (prescribed circumstances for persons aged 16 but less than 18); and | |||||
(iii) | is not the subject of a direction under section 16 of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (persons under 18: severe hardship). |
SCHEDULE 2PARAGRAPH 1 OF PART 1 OF SCHEDULE 3 TO THE HOUSING BENEFIT REGULATIONS 2006 AS AMENDED BY THIS ORDER
PART 1Personal Allowances
1.
Column (1) | Column (2) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Person or couple | Amount | ||||
(1) | A single claimant who— | (1) | |||
(a) | is entitled to main phase employment and support allowance; | (a) | £73.10; | ||
(b) | is aged not less than 25; | (b) | £73.10; | ||
(c) | is aged less than 25. | (c) | £57.90. | ||
(2) | Lone parent who— | (2) | |||
(a) | is entitled to main phase employment and support allowance; | (a) | £73.10; | ||
(b) | is aged not less than 18; or | (b) | £73.10; | ||
(c) | is aged less than 18. | (c) | £57.90. | ||
(3) | Couple where— | (3) | |||
(a) | the claimant is entitled to main phase employment and support allowance; | (a) | £114.85; | ||
(b) | at least one member is aged not less than 18; | (b) | £114.85; | ||
(c) | both members are aged less than 18. | (c) | £87.50. |
SCHEDULE 3PARAGRAPH 1 OF PART 1 OF SCHEDULE 1 TO THE JSA REGULATIONS 1996 AS AMENDED BY THIS ORDER
PART 1Personal Allowances
1.
(1) | (2) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Person or Couple | Amount | ||||
(1) Single claimant aged— | (1) | ||||
(a) | except where head (b) or (c) of this sub-paragraph applies, less than 18; | (a) | £57.90; | ||
(b) | less than 18 who falls within paragraph (2) of regulation 57 and who— | (b) | £57.90; | ||
(i) | is a person to whom regulation 59, 60 or 61 applies; or | ||||
(ii) | is the subject of a direction under section 16; | ||||
(c) | less than 18 who satisfies the condition in paragraph 13(1)(a) of Part 3; | (c) | £57.90; | ||
(d) | not less than 18 but less than 25; | (d) | £57.90; | ||
(e) | not less than 25. | (e) | £73.10. | ||
(2) Lone parent aged— | (2) | ||||
(a) | except where head (b) or (c) of this sub-paragraph applies, less than 18; | (a) | £57.90; | ||
(b) | less than 18 who falls within paragraph (2) of regulation 57 and who— | (b) | £57.90; | ||
(i) | is a person to whom regulation 59, 60 or 61 applies; or | ||||
(ii) | is the subject of a direction under section 16; | ||||
(c) | less than 18 who satisfies the condition in paragraph 13(1)(a) of Part 3; | (c) | £57.90; | ||
(d) | not less than 18. | (d) | £73.10. | ||
(3) Couple— | (3) | ||||
(a) | where both members are aged less than 18 and— | (a) | £87.50; | ||
(i) | at least one of them is treated as responsible for a child; or | ||||
(ii) | had they not been members of a couple, each would have been a person to whom regulation 59, 60 or 61 (circumstances in which a person aged 16 or 17 is eligible for a jobseeker’s allowance) applied; or | ||||
(iii) | had they not been members of a couple, the claimant would have been a person to whom regulation 59, 60 or 61 (circumstances in which a person aged 16 or 17 is eligible for a jobseeker’s allowance) applied and his partner satisfies the requirements for entitlement to income support or an income-related employment and support allowance other than the requirement to make a claim for it; or | ||||
(iv) | they are married or civil partners, and one member of the couple is a person to whom regulation 59, 60 or 61 applies and the other member is registered in accordance with regulation 62; or | ||||
(iva) | they are married or civil partners, and each member of the couple is a person to whom regulation 59, 60 or 61 applies; or | ||||
(v) | there is a direction under section 16 (jobseeker’s allowance in cases of severe hardship) in respect of each member; or | ||||
(vi) | there is a direction under section 16 in respect of one of them and the other is a person to whom regulation 59, 60 or 61 applies; or | ||||
(vii) | there is a direction under section 16 in respect of one of them and the other satisfies requirements for entitlement to income support or an income-related employment and support allowance other than the requirement to make a claim for it; | ||||
(b) | where both members are aged less than 18 and head (a) does not apply but one member of the couple falls within paragraph (2) of regulation 57 and either— | (b) | £57.90; | ||
(i) | is a person to whom regulation 59, 60 or 61 applies; or | ||||
(ii) | is the subject of a direction under section 16 of the Act; | ||||
(c) | where both members are aged less than 18 and neither head (a) nor (b) applies but one member of the couple— | (c) | £57.90; | ||
(i) | is a person to whom regulation 59, 60 or 61 applies; or | ||||
(ii) | is the subject of a direction under section 16; | ||||
(d) | where both members are aged less than 18 and none of heads (a), (b) or (c) apply but one member of the couple is a person who satisfies the requirements of paragraph 13(1)(a); | (d) | £57.90; | ||
(e) | where— | (e) | £114.85; | ||
(i) | both members are aged not less than 18; or | ||||
(ii) | one member is aged not less than 18 and the other member is a person who is— | ||||
(aa) | under 18, and | ||||
(bb) | treated as responsible for a child; | ||||
(f) | where paragraph (e) does not apply and one member is aged not less than 18 and the other member is a person under 18 who— | (f) | £114.85; | ||
(i) | is a person to whom regulation 59, 60 or 61 applies; or | ||||
(ii) | is the subject of a direction under section 16; or | ||||
(iii) | satisfies requirements for entitlement to income support or who would do so if he were not a member of a couple, other than the requirement to make a claim for it; or | ||||
(iv) | satisfies requirements for entitlement to an income-related employment and support allowance other than the requirement to make a claim for it; | ||||
(g) | where one member is aged not less than 18 but less than 25 and the other member is a person under 18— | (g) | £57.90; | ||
(i) | to whom none of the regulations 59 to 61 applies; or | ||||
(ii) | who is not the subject of a direction under section 16; and | ||||
(iii) | does not satisfy requirements for entitlement to income support or an income-related employment and support allowance disregarding the requirement to make a claim for it; | ||||
(h) | where one member is aged not less than 25 and the other member is a person under 18— | (h) | £73.10. | ||
(i) | to whom none of the regulations 59 to 61 applies; or | ||||
(ii) | who is not the subject of a direction under section 16; and | ||||
(iii) | does not satisfy requirements for entitlement to income support or an income-related employment and support allowance disregarding the requirement to make a claim for it. |
SCHEDULE 4PART 1 OF SCHEDULE 4 TO THE ESA REGULATIONS 2008 AS AMENDED BY THIS ORDER
PART 1Prescribed amounts
1.
(1) | (2) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Person or Couple | Amount | |||
(1) Single claimant— | (1) | |||
(a) | who satisfies the conditions set out in section 2(2) or (3) or 4(4) or (5) of the Act; | (a) | £73.10; | |
(b) | aged not less than 25; | (b) | £73.10; | |
(c) | aged less than 25. | (c) | £57.90; | |
(2) Lone parent or a person who has no partner and who is responsible for and a member of the same household as a young person— | (2) | |||
(a) | who satisfies the conditions set out in section 4(4) or (5) of the Act; | (a) | £73.10; | |
(b) | aged not less than 18; | (b) | £73.10; | |
(c) | aged less than 18. | (c) | £57.90; | |
(3) Couple— | (3) | |||
(a) | where both members are aged not less than 18; | (a) | £114.85; | |
(b) | where one member is aged not less than 18 and the other member is a person under 18 who— | (b) | £114.85; | |
(i) | if that other member had not been a member of a couple, would satisfy the requirements for entitlement to income support other than the requirement to make a claim for it; or | |||
(ii) | if that other member had not been a member of a couple, would satisfy the requirements for entitlement to an income-related allowance; or | |||
(iii) | satisfies the requirements of section 3(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Act (prescribed circumstances for persons aged 16 but less than 18); or | |||
(iv) | is the subject of a direction under section 16 of that Act (persons under 18: severe hardship); | |||
(c) | where the claimant satisfies the conditions set out in section 4(4) or (5) of the Act and both members are aged less than 18 and— | (c) | £114.85; | |
(i) | at least one of them is treated as responsible for a child; or | |||
(ii) | had they not been members of a couple, each would have qualified for an income-related allowance; or | |||
(iii) | had they not been members of a couple the claimant’s partner would satisfy the requirements for entitlement to income support other than the requirement to make a claim for it; or | |||
(iv) | the claimant’s partner satisfies the requirements of section 3(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Act (prescribed circumstances for persons aged 16 but less than 18); or | |||
(v) | there is in force in respect of the claimant’s partner a direction under section 16 of that Act (persons under 18: severe hardship); | |||
(d) | where both members are aged less than 18 and— | (d) | £87.50; | |
(i) | at least one of them is treated as responsible for a child; or | |||
(ii) | had they not been members of a couple, each would have qualified for an income-related allowance; or | |||
(iii) | had they not been members of a couple the claimant’s partner satisfies the requirements for entitlement to income support other than a requirement to make a claim for it; or | |||
(iv) | the claimant’s partner satisfies the requirements of section 3(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Act (prescribed circumstances for persons aged 16 but less than 18); or | |||
(v) | there is in force in respect of the claimant’s partner a direction under section 16 of that Act (persons under 18: severe hardship); | |||
(e) | where the claimant is aged not less than 25 and the claimant’s partner is a person under 18 who— | (e) | £73.10; | |
(i) | would not qualify for an income-related allowance if the person were not a member of a couple; | |||
(ii) | would not qualify for income support if the person were not a member of a couple; | |||
(iii) | does not satisfy the requirements of section 3(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Act (prescribed circumstances for persons aged 16 but less than 18); and | |||
(iv) | is not the subject of a direction under section 16 of that Act (persons under 18: severe hardship); | |||
(f) | where the claimant satisfies the conditions set out in section 4(4) or (5) of the Act and the claimant’s partner is a person under 18 who— | (f) | £73.10; | |
(i) | would not qualify for an income-related allowance if the person were not a member of a couple; | |||
(ii) | would not qualify for income support if the person were not a member of a couple; | |||
(iii) | does not satisfy the requirements of section 3(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Act (prescribed circumstances for persons aged 16 but less than 18); and | |||
(iv) | is not the subject of a direction under section 16 of that Act (persons under 18: severe hardship); | |||
(g) | where the claimant satisfies the conditions set out in section 4(4) or (5) of the Act and both members are aged less than 18 and paragraph (c) does not apply; | (g) | £73.10; | |
(h) | where the claimant is aged not less than 18 but less than 25 and the claimant’s partner is a person under 18 who— | (h) | £57.90; | |
(i) | would not qualify for an income-related allowance if the person were not a member of a couple; | |||
(ii) | would not qualify for income support if the person were not a member of a couple; | |||
(iii) | does not satisfy the requirements of section 3(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Act (prescribed circumstances for persons aged 16 but less than 18); and | |||
(iv) | is not the subject of a direction under section 16 of that Act (persons under 18: severe hardship); | |||
(i) | where both members are aged less than 18 and paragraph (d) does not apply. | (i) | £57.90. |
SCHEDULE 5AMOUNTS OF CERTAIN ELEMENTS SPECIFIED IN THE TABLE IN REGULATION 36 OF THE UNIVERSAL CREDIT REGULATIONS 2013 AS AMENDED BY THIS ORDER
Element | Amount for each assessment period | |
---|---|---|
Standard allowance— | ||
single claimant aged under 25 | £251.77 | |
single claimant aged 25 or over | £317.82 | |
joint claimants both aged under 25 | £395.20 | |
joint claimants where either is aged 25 or over | £498.89 | |
Additional amount for disabled child or qualifying young person— | ||
lower rate | £126.11 | |
LCW and LCWRA elements— | ||
limited capability for work | £126.11 |
This Order is made under the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Act 2013 (“the Up-rating Act”) which provides for the up-rating of certain social security benefits and payments in various tax years.
The Order includes details of the sums mentioned in paragraph 1 of the Schedule to the Up-rating Act which are increased by 1 per cent in the tax year 2015-16.
Article 3 increases the weekly rate of statutory sick pay.
Article 4 increases the weekly rate of statutory maternity pay.
Article 5 increases the weekly rates of ordinary and additional statutory paternity pay, statutory adoption pay and statutory shared parental pay.
Article 6 and Schedule 1 increase certain personal allowances used in the calculation of income support.
Article 7 and Schedule 2 increase certain personal allowances used in the calculation of housing benefit.
Article 8 increases the age-related amounts for contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance.
Article 9 and Schedule 3 increase certain personal allowances used in the calculation of income-based jobseeker’s allowance for the purposes of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/207).
Article 10 increases the amounts of jobseeker’s allowance for the purposes of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/378).
Article 11(1) and Schedule 4 increase the contributory allowance of employment and support allowance and the prescribed amounts for income-related employment and support allowance for the purposes of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/794). Article 11(2) increases the work-related activity component for the purposes of those Regulations.
Article 12 increases the contributory allowance of employment and support allowance and the work-related activity component set out in regulation 62 of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/379) and in that regulation as modified under the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (Commencement No. 9 and Transitional and Transitory Provisions and Commencement No. 8 and Savings and Transitional Provisions (Amendment)) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/983).
Article 13 and Schedule 5 relate to universal credit. They increase the standard allowance, the additional amount for a disabled child or qualifying young person (lower rate) and the limited capability for work element.
Article 14 provides for the revocation of the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/147).
In accordance with section 1(4) of the Up-rating Act, a copy of the report of the Government Actuary giving his opinion on the likely effect on the National Insurance Fund of the making of this Order will be laid before Parliament.
A full Impact Assessment has not been published for this instrument as it has no new impact on business or civil society organisations.