Social Security Citation, commencement and interpretation 1 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Income-Related Benefits (Local Welfare Provision Disregard) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 and come into operation on 4th May 2022. 2 The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly. Amendment of the Income Support (General) Regulations 2 1 The Income Support (General Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4). 2 In regulation 2(1) interpretation after the definition of “liable relative” insert— “ local welfare provision ” means occasional financial or other assistance given by a Northern Ireland Department, or a person authorised to exercise any function of, or provide a service to, it, to or in respect of individuals for the purpose of— meeting, or helping to meet, an immediate short term need— arising out of an exceptional event, or exceptional circumstances; and that requires to be met in order to avoid a risk to the well-being of an individual; or enabling individuals to establish or maintain a settled home, where those individuals have been or, without the assistance, might otherwise be— in prison, hospital, a residential care establishment or other institution; or homeless or otherwise living an unsettled way of life; . 3 In Schedule 9 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) after paragraph 31 insert— 31A Any local welfare provision. . 4 In Schedule 10 (capital to be disregarded) after paragraph 18 insert— 18A Any local welfare provision. . Amendment of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 3 1 The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4). 2 In regulation 1(2) (citation, commencement and interpretation) after the definition of “liable relative” insert— “ local welfare provision ” means occasional financial or other assistance given by a Northern Ireland Department, or a person authorised to exercise any function of, or provide a service to, it, to or in respect of individuals for the purpose of— meeting, or helping to meet, an immediate short term need— arising out of an exceptional event, or exceptional circumstances; and that requires to be met in order to avoid a risk to the well-being of an individual; or enabling individuals to establish or maintain a settled home, where those individuals have been or, without the assistance, might otherwise be— in prison, hospital, a residential care establishment or other institution; or homeless or otherwise living an unsettled way of life;”. 3 In Schedule 6 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) after paragraph 33 insert— 33A Any local welfare provision. . 4 In Schedule 7 (capital to be disregarded) after paragraph 23 insert— 23A Any local welfare provision. . Amendment of the State Pension Credit Regulations 4 1 The State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3). 2 In regulation 1(2) (citation, commencement and interpretation) after the definition of “the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations” insert— “ local welfare provision ” means occasional financial or other assistance given by a Northern Ireland Department, or a person authorised to exercise any function of, or provide a service to, it, to or in respect of individuals for the purpose of— meeting, or helping to meet, an immediate short term need— arising out of an exceptional event, or exceptional circumstances; and that requires to be met in order to avoid a risk to the well-being of an individual; or enabling individuals to establish or maintain a settled home, where those individuals have been or, without the assistance, might otherwise be— in prison, hospital, a residential care establishment or other institution; or homeless or otherwise living an unsettled way of life;”. 3 In Schedule 5 (income from capital) after paragraph 20(1)(d) insert— da by way of local welfare provision including arrears and payments in lieu of local welfare provision, or”. Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations 5 1 The Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4). 2 In regulation 2(1) (interpretation) after the definition of “local housing allowance” insert— “ local welfare provision ” means occasional financial or other assistance given by a Northern Ireland Department, or a person authorised to exercise any function of, or provide a service to, it, to or in respect of individuals for the purpose of— meeting, or helping to meet, an immediate short term need— arising out of an exceptional event, or exceptional circumstances; and that requires to be met in order to avoid a risk to the well-being of an individual; or enabling individuals to establish or maintain a settled home, where those individuals have been or, without the assistance, might otherwise be— in prison, hospital, a residential care establishment or other institution; or homeless or otherwise living an unsettled way of life;”. 3 In Schedule 6 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) after paragraph 32 insert— 32A Any local welfare provision. . 4 In Schedule 7 (capital to be disregarded) after paragraph 21 insert— 21A Any local welfare provision. . Amendment of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 6 1 The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3). 2 In regulation 2(1) (interpretation) after the definition of “local housing allowance” insert— “ local welfare provision ” means occasional financial or other assistance given by a Northern Ireland Department, or a person authorised to exercise any function of, or provide a service to, it, to or in respect of individuals for the purpose of— meeting, or helping to meet, an immediate short term need— arising out of an exceptional event, or exceptional circumstances; and that requires to be met in order to avoid a risk to the well-being of an individual; or enabling individuals to establish or maintain a settled home, where those individuals have been or, without the assistance, might otherwise be— in prison, hospital, a residential care establishment or other institution; or homeless or otherwise living an unsettled way of life;”. 3 In Schedule 7 (capital to be disregarded) after paragraph 21(1)(e) insert— ea by way of local welfare provision including arrears and payments in lieu of local welfare provision;”. Amendment of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 7 1 The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4). 2 In regulation 2(1) (interpretation) after the definition of “limited capability for work assessment” insert— “ local welfare provision ” means occasional financial or other assistance given by a Northern Ireland Department, or a person authorised to exercise any function of, or provide a service to, it, to or in respect of individuals for the purpose of— meeting, or helping to meet, an immediate short term need— arising out of an exceptional event, or exceptional circumstances; and that requires to be met in order to avoid a risk to the well-being of an individual; or enabling individuals to establish or maintain a settled home, where those individuals have been or, without the assistance, might otherwise be— in prison, hospital, a residential care establishment or other institution; or homeless or otherwise living an unsettled way of life;”. 3 In Schedule 8 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) after paragraph 34 insert— 34A Any local welfare provision. . 4 In Schedule 9 (capital to be disregarded) after paragraph 23 insert— 23A Any local welfare provision. . Amendment of the Universal Credit Regulations 8 1 The Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3). 2 In regulation 2 (interpretation), after the definition of “LCWRA element” insert— “ local welfare provision ” means occasional financial or other assistance given by a Northern Ireland Department, or a person authorised to exercise any function of, or provide a service to, it, to or in respect of individuals for the purpose of— meeting, or helping to meet, an immediate short term need— arising out of an exceptional event, or exceptional circumstances; and that requires to be met in order to avoid a risk to the well-being of an individual; or enabling individuals to establish or maintain a settled home, where those individuals have been or, without the assistance, might otherwise be— in prison, hospital, a residential care establishment or other institution; or homeless or otherwise living an unsettled way of life; . 3 In Schedule 10 (capital to be disregarded), after paragraph 18 , insert— 18A A payment received within the past 12 months by way of local welfare provision including arrears and payments in lieu of local welfare provision. Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 26th April 2022 (L.S.) Anne McCleary A senior officer of the Department for Communities The Department of Finance hereby consents to regulations 5 and 6 the foregoing regulations. Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance on 26th April 2022 (L.S.) Patrick Neeson A senior officer of the Department of Finance