Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2016/270/made
Timestamp: 2018-04-23 21:45:52
Document Index: 352393848

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 5', 'art 5', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'art 8']

The Department for Communities(1) in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 135 & 136(5) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015(2)makes the following Regulations.
In accordance with Article 135(5) of that Order, a draft of these Regulations was laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.
(a)a person who has been appointed to act on P’s behalf by the Department under regulation 33(1) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(3); or
(b)a person who has been appointed, with a general power or a power to claim or receive benefit, by P under the Powers of Attorney Act (Northern Ireland) 1971(4), the Enduring Powers of Attorney (Northern Ireland) Order 1987(5) or otherwise.
(5) Where paragraph (1)(d) applies the amount of rent to be provided shall not exceed a sum calculated in accordance with paragraph (4)(1) of Schedule 2 of the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(6).
(a)a prisoner or a person who is lawfully detained or is on temporary release under rule 27 of the Prisons and Young Offenders Centres Rules (Northern Ireland) 1995(7);
(2) For the purposes of this Part the “Annual income threshold” will be based on a working week of 40 hours over 52 weeks paid at the hourly rate set by the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015(8) for a person over the age of 25, in force on the date of a claim.
(6) Sections 69ZC to 69ZE of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(9) apply to amounts recoverable under this regulation as they apply to amounts recoverable under section 69ZB of that Act.
SCHEDULE 1Discretionary support loans – excluded items and services
1. Any need which occurs outside Northern Ireland.
2. An educational or training need including clothing, tools, school uniforms or sports clothes, equipment for use at school, school meals and travel to and from school.
7. Mobility needs.
8. Funeral and maternity expenses.
10. Housing costs, including repairs modifications and improvements to the dwelling occupied as the main home, including any garage, garden and outbuildings, and including deposits to secure accommodation, mortgage payments, rates, water rates, sewerage rates, service charges, rent and all other charges for accommodation except rent payable under regulation 11(1)(d).
11. Removal or storage charges where a claimant is re-housed following the imposition of a compulsory purchase order, or a redevelopment or closing order, or a compulsory exchange of tenancies, or pursuant to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s statutory duty to the homeless under the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988(10).
12. Costs associated with home or personal security measures including locks, bolts for outside doors or windows, door chains, door viewers, installation of closed-circuit television, burglar alarms or security lighting.
13. A television or radio and licence, aerial, cable, satellite or rental charges for a television or radio.
14. Costs of purchasing, renting, installing or maintaining a computer, telephone, mobile phone or internet including software, call or usage charges.
15. Garaging, parking, taxi use, purchase and running costs of any motor vehicle except travelling expenses payable to assist with an urgent crisis or emergency under regulation 11(1)(c).
17. Debts to government departments.
SCHEDULE 2Discretionary support grants – excluded items and services
10. Housing costs, including repairs modifications and improvements to the dwelling occupied as the main home, including any garage, garden, outbuildings, and including deposits to secure accommodation, mortgage payments, rates, water rates, sewerage rates, service charges, rent and all other charges for accommodation, whether or not such charges include payment for meals or services except daily living expenses such as food and groceries where such expenses are incurred in caring for a prisoner or young offender on temporary release under Rule 27 of the Prison and Young Offenders Centres Rules (Northern Ireland) 1995(11).
11. Removal or storage charges where a claimant is re-housed following the imposition of a compulsory purchase order, or a redevelopment or closing order, or a compulsory exchange of tenancies, or, pursuant to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s statutory duty to the homeless under the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988(12).
15. Garaging, parking, taxi use, purchase and running costs of any motor vehicle.
SCHEDULE 3Sums to be disregarded in the calculation of an annual income threshold
1. Any earnings of a child or young person.
2. Any amount paid by way of tax, national insurance or pension contributions where—
(a)any relievable pension contributions have been made by the person in that period;
(b)any amounts paid by the person in that period in respect of the employment by way of income tax or primary Class 1 contributions under section 6(1) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(13);
(c)Class 2 contributions payable under section 11(1) or (3) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 or any Class 4 contributions payable under section 15 of that Act; or
(d)income tax; and any relievable pension contributions made by the person in the assessment period (unless a deduction has been made in respect of those contributions in calculating a person’s employed earnings).
4. Any payments under article 15(1) or article 29(1) of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011(14).
5. Access to Work payments.
6. Any reimbursements for hospital travel or prescription charges under the Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004(15).
8. Any payments made in respect of Fostering Allowance and other Social Services payments.
10. In the case of employment as an employed earner, any payment in respect of expenses wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred in the performance of the duties of the employment.
12. Any payment to the claimant as a holder of the Victoria Cross or George Cross or any analogous payment.
14. Any payment to the claimant under the Civilian War Pension Scheme (The Personal Injuries (Civilians)) Scheme 1983(16).
15. Except where regulation 17 applies, income in kind.
16. Attendance Allowance under Section 64 Social Security Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act 1992.
17. Disability Living Allowance under Section 71 Social Security Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act 1992.
18. Guardians Allowance under Section 77 Social Security Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act 1992.
19. Constant Attendance Allowance under Sections 104 and 105 Social Security Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act 1992.
21. A Christmas bonus paid in accordance with sections 148 to 150 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992.
22. Discretionary Housing Payments.
24. Independent Living Fund.
25. Payments made under the Skipton Fund, the MacFarlane Trust and the Eileen Trust; and any payments of compensation arising from variant Creutzfeld Jacob disease (CJD).
26. Housing Costs, based on the local housing allowance under the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(17), for those not on Housing Benefit.
27. Charitable or voluntary payments for the claimant or their children.
29. Discharge grants paid on release from prison.
30. Arrears of residence order payments.
32. Any earnings or income derived from employment, or otherwise, which are payable in a country outside Northern Ireland for such period during which there is a prohibition against a transfer to Northern Ireland of those earnings or income.
35. Any payment arising as a result of the Welfare Supplementary Payments Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(18).
36. Any payment arising as a result of the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Disability Living Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(19).
37. Any payment arising as a result of the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Disability-Related Premiums) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(20).
38. Any payment arising as a result of the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Carer Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(21).
39. Personal Independence Payments under Part 5 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015(22).
1. Any sum—
(a)paid to the claimant in consequence of damage to, or loss of the home or any personal possession and intended for its repair or replacement; or
(b)acquired by the claimant (whether as a loan or otherwise) on the express condition that it is to be used for effecting essential repairs or improvements to the home,
which is to be used for the intended purpose, from the date on which it was so paid or acquired or such longer period as is reasonable in the circumstances to effect the repairs, replacement or improvement.
2. Any capital which is by virtue of regulation 16 to be treated as income.
3. Where funds of a trust are derived from a payment made in consequence of any personal injury to the claimant the value of the trust fund and the value of the right to receive any payment.
4. Any payment made by the Victims and Survivors Service.
5. Any payment to the claimant of a War Disablement Pension if the injury or illness happened or developed on or before 5 April 2005 and it is linked to Service in the Armed Forces.
6. Any payment to the claimant under the Civilian War Pension Scheme (The Personal Injuries (Civilians)) Scheme 1983(23).
7. Any payments under article 15(1) or article 29(1) of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011(24).
8. Any social fund payment.
10. The surrender value of any policy of life insurance.
11. The value of the right to receive any income under an annuity and the surrender value (if any) of such an annuity.
13. Personal Independence Payments under Part 5 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015(25).
14. Any payment arising as a result of the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Disability Living Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(26).
15. Any payment arising as a result of the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Disability-Related Premiums) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(27).
16. Any payment arising as a result of the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Carer Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(28).
These Regulations, which are made under articles 135 & 136 (5) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015, provide for the establishment of a discretionary support fund to be administered by the Department, to provide emergency loans and grants to claimants who find themselves in extreme, exceptional or crisis circumstances which present a significant risk to the health, safety or well-being of the claimant or a member of the claimant’s family.
Part 1 sets out the commencement, citation and interpretation relevant to the Regulations.
Part 2 details the manner in which a claim can be made. Claims can be made by telephone or in such other manner as the Department may accept as sufficient to a particular case (regulation 4(1)). Claims can also be made in writing 4(2); claims must be communicated, sent or delivered to an appropriate office 4(3). Regulation 5 specifies the date on which a claim has been received by the Department. Regulation 6 sets out the information types the Department may request a claimant to provide. Regulation 7 sets out the rules that apply when a person is unable to act on their own behalf. Regulation 8 provides the discretionary support officer with a discretionary power to decide whether a claim for discretionary support should proceed as a loan or a grant application. It also makes the discretionary support officer liable to take into account any guidance issued by the Department in relation to any matter concerning discretionary support. Regulation 9 permits the claimant to withdraw a claim.
Part 3 deals with eligibility. Regulation 10 sets out the general eligibility criteria that must be satisfied, including in 10(1)(a) that there should be significant risk to the claimant or the claimant’s family. 10(1)(b) specifies the need must arise in Northern Ireland. Regulation 10(1)(c) ensures the claimant’s income cannot exceed a set income threshold, 10(1)(d) sets out the age restrictions – over 18, unless their parents are in receipt of child benefit, or a minimum of 16 if the young person has no parental support, and 10(1)(e) that the need must be satisfied in Northern Ireland. Regulation 10(2) sets out that the claimant must be a resident of Northern Ireland and present in Northern Ireland. Regulation 10(3) specifies when a discretionary support officer should not make a determination and the exceptions to those circumstances. 11 & 12 set out the criteria for eligibility for a loan or a grant, including reference to Schedules 1 and 2 which sets out excluded items. Regulation 13 sets out those persons who are excluded from applying for discretionary support and Regulation 14 sets out those who are ordinarily excluded, but may be eligible to make a claim for discretionary support, but only where that is a loan for living expenses arising as a consequence of a disaster.
Part 4 explains the conditions around income and earnings, regulation 15 sets an annual income threshold with reference to the national living wage paid to those over 25 assuming a working pattern of 40 hours per week 52 weeks per year. Anyone whose earnings exceed this may not be eligible. Income taken into account will be gross income. By regulation 15(4) certain disregards specified in Schedule 3 apply to the calculation of income. The income of a child or young person will not be regarded as income of the claimant, but that of a member of a couple will be treated as income of the claimant. Regulation 16 deals with circumstances where some capital is regarded as income and regulation 17 covers circumstances where it appears the claimant may have intentionally deprived themselves of income to ensure they are eligible. So called notional income will be taken into account as if the claimant was in possession of that income.
Part 5 details the rules around capital held by a claimant and regulation 18 deals with the calculation of capital, and includes provision that any capital held by the claimant or the other member of a couple will be regarded as capital of the claimant. As with income, a number of disregards will apply and these are specified in Schedule 4. Regulation 19 details that any capital deliberately disposed of for the purposes of securing discretionary support will be treated as capital they actually possess. Regulation 20 deals with capital that is jointly held.
Part 6 covers awards and payments. Regulations 21 to 23 set out the principles for determining an award, dependent on existing levels of debt; the conditions a claimant must satisfy before an award can be paid; and how a payment should be made once conditions are satisfied.
Part 7 deals with recovery. All loans will be repayable, and grants may be recoverable. Regulation 24 sets out the ways in, and circumstances under which a loan or overpayment can be recovered.
Part 8 outlines reviews of a determination. Regulation 25 provides the Department with power to establish review procedures and the manner in which they can be conducted.
Schedule 1 sets out items and services that are excluded from the loan process.
Schedule 2 sets out items and services that are excluded from the grant process.
Schedule 3 sets out the disregards in respect of income calculations.
Schedule 4 sets out the disregards in respect of capital calculations.
See section 1(7) of the Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (c. 5 (N.I.)) and S.R. 2016 No. 76
1971 c. 33 (NI)
S.I. 1987/1627 (N.I.16)
S.R. 1995 No. 8 as amended by S.R 1997 No. 86 and S.R. 2009 No. 429.
S.R. 2015 No. 621 as amended by S.I. 2016/68.
S.R. 1995 No.8
S.R. 1983 No. 686
S.R. 2016 No. 254
S.R. 2016 No. 253
S.I. 2015 No. 2006 (N.I. 1); S.R. 2016 No. 217 and S.R. 2016 No. 228