PART 2AMENDMENTS TO BENEFIT LEGISLATION EXTENDING TO ENGLAND AND WALES AND SCOTLAND

Amendment of the habitual residence test in income-related benefits 2

1

In the provisions specified in paragraph (2), after sub-paragraph (zzd) insert—

zze

a person who was residing in Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Lebanon immediately before 7th October 2023, who left Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Lebanon in connection with the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on 7th October 2023 or the violence which rapidly escalated in the region following the attack and—

i

has been granted leave in accordance with immigration rules made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 19719;

ii

has a right of abode in the United Kingdom within the meaning given in section 2 of that Act10; or

iii

does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom in accordance with section 3ZA of that Act11;

2

Those provisions are—

a

regulation 21AA(4) of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 (special cases: supplemental – persons from abroad)12;

b

regulation 85A(4) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (special cases: supplemental — persons from abroad)13;

c

regulation 2(4) of the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 (persons not in Great Britain)14;

d

regulation 10(3B) of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 (persons from abroad)15;

e

regulation 10(4A) of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 (persons from abroad)16; and

f

regulation 70(4) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 (special cases: supplemental — persons from abroad)17.

3

In the Universal Credit Regulations 201318, in regulation 9(4) (persons treated as not being in Great Britain), after sub-paragraph (zd) insert—

ze

a person who was residing in Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Lebanon immediately before 7th October 2023, who left Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Lebanon in connection with the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on 7th October 2023 or the violence which rapidly escalated in the region following the attack and—

i

has been granted leave in accordance with immigration rules made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971;

ii

has a right of abode in the United Kingdom within the meaning given in section 2 of that Act; or

iii

does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom in accordance with section 3ZA of that Act;