These Regulations make further amendments to the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992 (“the Principal Regulations”).

The Principal Regulations determine the way that local authorities assess the ability of a person to pay for the accommodation which local authorities arrange under Part 3 of the National Assistance Act 1948.

Regulation 2 increases the capital limits in the Principal Regulations. The upper capital limit sets the amount of capital above which a resident is not eligible for local authority support. The lower capital limit sets the amount below which a resident is not required to contribute to his or her accommodation from capital.

Regulation 3 makes amendments to Schedule 3 of the Principal Regulations which sets out certain sources of income which local authorities must disregard. The levels of savings credit disregard are raised from £4.75 to £4.85 in the case of a single person and from £6.95 to £7.20 in the case of a resident with a partner. There is a new disregard for payments made under the arrangements to support “special guardians” under section 14F of the Children Act 1989.

Regulation 4 amends Schedule 4 of the Principal Regulations so that payments made to “special guardians” are also disregarded as capital.