The Rate Relief (Qualifying Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 No. 203

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STATUTORY RULES OF NORTHERN IRELAND

2007 No. 203
RATES
The Rate Relief (Qualifying Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

	Made	23rd March 2007
	Coming into operation	1st April 2007

CONTENTS

PART 1
General

1.	Citation and commencement

2.	Interpretation

3.	Modification of regulations 3 to 6

Arrangements for rate relief

4.	Rate relief scheme

5.	Arrangements for rate relief

PART 2
Provisions affecting entitlement to rate relief

7.	Entitlement to rate relief

Exclusions from rate relief

9.	Exclusions from rate relief

11.	Modification of Part II and Schedule A1

12.	Modification of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

13.	Modification of the Social Security (Immigration and Asylum) Consequential Amendments Regulations

PART 3
Payments in respect of a hereditament

14.	Modification of Part III

PART 4
Membership of a family

15.	Modification of the Act

16.	Modification of Part IV

PART 5
Applicable amounts

17.	Modification of Part V and Schedule 4

PART 6
Assessment of income and capital

18.	Modification of the Act

19.	Modification of Part VI and Schedules 5, 6 and 7

20.	Notional entitlement to housing benefit

PART 7
Amount of rate relief

21.	Modification of Part VII and Schedule 8

PART 8
Calculation of weekly amounts and changes of circumstances

22.	Calculation of weekly amount of rate relief

23.	Modification of Part VIII

24.	Date on which entitlement is to commence

PART 9
Claims

25.	Modification of Part IX and Schedule 10

26.	Making a claim for rate relief

27.	Claims in advance for rate relief

28.	Entitlement dependent on claim

PART 10
Decisions on questions

29.	Modification of Part X and Schedule 9

PART 11
Payments

30.	Modification of Part XI

PART 12
Overpayments

31.	Application of section 73 of the Administration Act

32.	Modification of Part XII

33.	Destination of repayments, etc.

PART 13
Supply of Information

34.	Supply of information

35.	Sharing of information

36.	Supply of government information for fraud prevention and verification

37.	Supply of information to the Executive

38.	Supply of information by the Executive

39.	Unauthorised disclosure of information relating to particular persons

PART 14
Decisions, Revisions and Appeals

40.	Modification of the 2000 Act

41.	Modification of the Decisions and Appeals Regulations 1999

42.	Modification of the Decisions and Appeals Regulations

43.	Modification of the Commissioner Procedures Regulations

PART 15
Enforcement

44.	Authorisations for investigators

45.	Provision of information

46.	Authorisations by Housing Executive

47.	Delay, obstruction etc. of inspector

48.	False representations for obtaining relief

49.	Breach of regulations

50.	Penalty as alternative to prosecution

51.

Notice

52.	Legal proceedings

53.	Interpretation of enforcement provisions

PART 16
Rate Relief Finance

54.	Rate relief finance

55.	Claims for finance etc.

56.	Persons to report on administration

57.	Powers of investigation

58.

Reports

Directions by Department

59.	Directions

60.	Information about attainment of standards

61.	Enforcement notices

62.	Enforcement determination

63.	Enforcement determination: Supplementary

64.	Role of NIAO auditors in relation to rate relief

PART 17
Payment of travelling expenses by Department

65.	Payment of travelling expenses by Department

The Department of Finance and Personnel[1] makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 30A of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977[2].

PART 1
General
Citation and commencement
     1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Rate Relief (Qualifying Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and shall come into operation on 1st April 2007.

    (2) These Regulations are to be read, in a case where a person if he, or if he has a partner, his partner, has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit, with the Rate Relief (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007[3].

Interpretation
     2. —(1) Regulation 2(1) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (interpretation) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

" "appropriate office" means the office of a relevant authority which that authority deems appropriate for dealing with a claim from a particular area;";

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(c) as if the definition of "benefit week" were omitted;

(d) as if for the definition of "claim" there were substituted—

" "claim" means, unless the context otherwise requires, a claim for rate relief;";

" "earnings" has the meaning prescribed in regulation 33 or, as the case may be, 36 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19;";

" "eligible rates" is to be construed in accordance with regulation 12 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 14;";

" "extended payment (severe disablement allowance and incapacity benefit)" means a payment of rate relief pursuant to regulation 51 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 21;";

" "net earnings" means such earnings as are calculated in accordance with regulation 34 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19;";

" "non-dependant" has the meaning prescribed in regulation 3 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 3;";

" "remunerative work" has the meaning prescribed in regulation 6 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 3;";

" "young person" has the meaning prescribed in regulation 17(1) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 16;".

(2) In these Regulations—

"the 1998 Order" means the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998[

"hereditament" means property which is, or may become, liable to a rate, being a unit of such property which is, or would fall to be, shown as a separate item in a capital value list;

"housing benefit" means housing benefit provided by virtue of a scheme under section 122 of the Act but, unless the context otherwise requires, only in so far as it relates to housing benefit which is payable in the form of a rate rebate;

"the principal Order" means the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977;

"rate relief" means relief from rates, which are payable in respect of a hereditament which a person occupies as his home, as calculated under regulation 22 (calculation of weekly amount of rate relief);

"rate relief week" means a period of 7 consecutive days commencing upon a Monday and ending on a Sunday.

(3) References in these Regulations to a person to whom the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations apply, shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include a reference to a person to whom those Regulations would apply were a claim for housing benefit to be made by that person.

(4) Regulation 2(2) to (8) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (references to a person who is liable to make payments, interpretation) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(b) as if in paragraph (4)—

Modification of regulations 3 to 6
3. Regulations 3 to 6 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as they apply for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(a) as if in regulation 3—

(b) as if regulation 4 were omitted;

(c) as if in regulation 6(6) for "benefit week" there were substituted "rate relief week".

Arrangements for rate relief

Rate relief scheme
     4. —(1) The relevant authorities shall take such steps as appear to them appropriate for the purpose of securing that persons who may be entitled to rate relief become aware that they may be entitled to it.

    (2) The relevant authorities shall make copies of the rate relief scheme available, without payment, for public inspection at their offices at all reasonable hours.

Arrangements for rate relief
     5. —(1) Rate relief shall be granted in accordance with paragraph (2).

    (2) The relevant authority, as it considers appropriate in the circumstances, may discharge entitlement to rate relief by means of any, or any combination, of the following—

(a) a payment or payments by the relevant authority to the claimant;

(b) a reduction in the amount of any payment which that person is liable to make by way of rates;

(c) a payment direct to the landlord where in accordance with regulations made under the Administration Act an amount of housing benefit payable to the claimant or his partner is being paid direct to the landlord; or

(d) a transfer of funds between the Executive and the Department,

and "pay", in relation to rate relief, includes discharge in any of those forms.

6. —(1) Rate relief shall be administered by—

(a) the Department insofar as it relates to persons who own the hereditaments which they occupy as their home;

(b) the Executive insofar as it relates to persons who are tenants of the Executive, private tenants or tenants of registered housing associations.

(2) In this regulation—

"private tenants" means tenants under any tenancy except—

(a) a tenancy under which the estate of the landlord belongs to the Executive or a registered housing association;

(b) a tenancy the purpose of which is to confer on the tenant the right to occupy a hereditament for a holiday;

"registered housing association" means a housing association registered in the register maintained under Part II of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1992[

PART 2
Provisions affecting entitlement to rate relief
Entitlement to rate relief
7. A person is entitled to rate relief if—

8. Where a person is entitled to rate relief, then—

(a) if he has no income or his income does not exceed the applicable amount calculated in accordance with Part 5 (applicable amounts), the amount of rate relief shall be the amount which is the appropriate maximum rate relief in his case; or

(b) if his income exceeds the applicable amount calculated in accordance with Part 5, the amount of rate relief shall be the amount calculated under regulation 22 (calculation of weekly amount of rate relief).

Exclusions from rate relief

Exclusions from rate relief
     9. Where one member of a family is entitled to rate relief that entitlement excludes any other member being entitled to that relief for the same period.

     10. A person shall not be entitled to rate relief where he is a person who is not chargeable to rates in respect of a hereditament.

Modification of Part II and Schedule A1
     11. —(1) Part II of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (provisions affecting entitlement to housing benefit) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(a) as if for "housing benefit", wherever it occurs, there were substituted "rate relief";

(b) as if for "benefit weeks", wherever it occurs, there were substituted "rate relief weeks";

(c) as if—

(d) as if in regulation 7—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 25";

(e) as if in regulation 8—

(ii) in paragraph (2) after "to 60" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 23";

(f) as if in regulation 9(1)(l) for "Part VII of the Act" there were substituted "Article 30A of the principal Order";

(g) as if in regulation 10—

(h) as if in regulation 10A—

(2) Schedule A1 to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(a) as if for "housing benefit", wherever it occurs, there were substituted "rate relief";

(b) as if for "dwelling", wherever it occurs, there were substituted "hereditament";

(c) as if for "benefit", wherever it occurs, there were substituted "rate relief";

(d) as if "rent or", wherever it occurs, were omitted;

(e) as if in paragraph 2(4) after "regulation 62(13)" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 25";

(f) as if paragraph 3(1) were omitted;

(g) as if in paragraph 4 after "Part V" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 17";

(h) as if in paragraph 6 after "regulation 65" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 25";

(i) as if in paragraph 7 after "Part VII" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 21";

(j) as if in paragraph 8—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 30";

(k) as if in paragraph 10 after "Schedule 9" there were inserted "to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 29".

Modification of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
12. Section 115 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999[10] (exclusion from benefits) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

Modification of the Social Security (Immigration and Asylum) Consequential Amendments Regulations
13. Regulation 2 of and Part I of the Schedule to the Social Security (Immigration and Asylum) Consequential Amendments Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000[11] shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as they apply for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(b) as if in Part I of the Schedule for the title there were substituted "Persons not excluded from rate relief under section 115 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999".

PART 3
Payments in respect of a hereditament
Modification of Part III
14. Part III of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (payments in respect of a dwelling) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

11.

(f) as if regulations 13 to 16 and Schedules 1 to 3 were omitted.

PART 4
Membership of a family
Modification of the Act
15. Sections 133(1) and 138 of the Act shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations they apply for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(b) as if in section 138 for "the Department" there were substituted "the Department of Finance and Personnel".

Modification of Part IV
16. Part IV of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (membership of a family) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(a) as if for "benefit week", wherever it occurs, there were substituted "rate relief week";

(b) as if in regulation 17(1) and (3)—

(c) as if in regulation 17(3) for "that Act" there were substituted "the Act";

(d) as if in regulation 18(1) after "regulation 17(3)" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 16";

(e) as if in regulation 19(1) after "regulation 18" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 16".

PART 5
Applicable amounts
Modification of Part V and Schedule 4
17. —(1) Part V of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (applicable amounts) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications as if in regulation 20—

(2) Schedule 4 to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (applicable amounts) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(a) as if after "this Part", wherever it occurs, there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 17";

(b) as if in Part I in paragraphs 1 and 2 after "regulation 20" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 17";

(c) as if in Part I in paragraph 1[

and in each case where the resultant figure is not a whole penny it shall be rounded to the nearest penny and 0.5 of a penny shall be rounded up;

(d) as if—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 17".

PART 6
Assessment of income and capital
Modification of the Act
18. Section 132(1) of the Act shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modification as if for "an income-related benefit" there were substituted "rate relief".

Modification of Part VI and Schedules 5, 6 and 7
19. —(1) Part VI of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (income and capital) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(iii) in paragraph (4)—

there were inserted "to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(iv) in paragraph (4)(e) after "regulation 19" regulation 16 there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 16";

(v) in—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(g) as if in regulation 26—

(h) as if in regulation 27—

after "Schedule 7" there were inserted "to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(ii) in paragraph (1) after sub-paragraph (h) there were inserted—

(i) as if in regulation 28(1)—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(j) as if in regulation 29—

(k) as if in regulation 31—

there were inserted "to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(ii) in paragraph (10) after "regulation 27(2)" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(l) as if in regulation 34—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(ii) in paragraph (1) after "Schedule 5" there were inserted "to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(m) as if—

(ii) in regulation 38—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(n) as if in regulation 39—

(iii) in paragraph (12) after "regulation 25(1)" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(o) as if for regulation 41 there were substituted—

41.

(q) as if in regulation 45—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(r) as if in regulation 46—

(s) as if in regulation 47(1) after "regulation 45(3)" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19".

(2) Schedule 5 to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (sums disregarded in the calculation of earnings) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(e) as if in paragraph 9(4) after "regulation 6" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 3".

(3) Schedule 6 to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (amounts to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

there were inserted "to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(e) as if in paragraph 25(a) after "regulation 27(6)" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(4) Schedule 7 to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (capital to be disregarded) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as they apply for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

Notional entitlement to housing benefit
20. Where a person has not made a claim for housing benefit, the relevant authority shall assess what the amount of his entitlement to housing benefit in the form of a rate rebate ("notional amount") would be were he to make such a claim and an amount equivalent to that notional amount shall be taken into account in full as housing benefit when assessing entitlement to rate relief in accordance with regulation 22 (calculation of weekly amount of rate relief).

PART 7
Amount of rate relief
Modification of Part VII and Schedule 8
21. —(1) Part VII of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (amount of benefit) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(f) as if regulation 49 were omitted;

(g) as if in regulation 50 after "Housing Benefit Regulations" there were inserted "as applied with modifications for the purposes of the Rate Relief (General) Regulations 2007 by regulation 22 of those Regulations";

(h) as if in regulation 51—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 23";

(ii) in paragraph (4) after "and 63" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 25";

(iii) in paragraph (6)(a)(ii) "rent or" and "or both" were omitted;

(i) as if regulation 52—

(j) as if in regulation 53—

(ii) in paragraph (2)—

(iii) in paragraph 6(a) after "Schedule 4" there were inserted "to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 17";

(iv) in paragraph 7(f) after "regulation 7" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 11";

(v) in paragraph (8)—

(vi) in paragraph 10(b) and (c)—

there were inserted "as applied with modification for the purposes of the Rate Relief (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 by regulation 19 of those Regulations";

(k) as if regulation 54 were omitted.

(2) Schedule 8 to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (extended payments (severe disablement allowance and incapacity benefit) of housing benefit) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 23";

(f) as if in paragraph 2(4) "rent or" were omitted;

(g) as if—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 21";

(h) as if in paragraph 3 for "4 to 6" there were substituted "5 and 6";

(i) as if paragraph 4 were omitted;

(j) as if in paragraph 5 for "rent and rate rebate" there were substituted "rate relief";

(k) as if in paragraph 6—

(l) as if in paragraph 8 for "whose housing benefit was in the form of a rate rebate only" there were substituted "who receives rate relief";

(m) as if in paragraph 9 after "regulation 7(6)" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 11".

PART 8
Calculation of weekly amounts and changes of circumstances
Calculation of weekly amount of rate relief
22. —(1) For the purposes of Article 30A of the principal Order the amount of a person's rate relief in any rate relief week shall be calculated by applying the formula ("the rate relief formula")—

M − E − HB = RR

where—

(2) In this regulation—

"applicable amount" means the applicable amount as calculated under Part 5 (applicable amounts);

"excess of income" means the resultant figure after the deduction of a person's income from his applicable amount;

"housing benefit entitlement" means that amount of housing benefit determined in accordance with Part VIII of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations but only in so far as it relates to a rate rebate, or as the case may be, an amount equivalent to the amount of notional entitlement as calculated under regulation 20 (notional entitlement to housing benefit); arrears of housing benefit shall be disregarded in full for the purposes of these Regulations;

"income" means income as calculated under Part 6 (income and capital);

"maximum rate relief" means the maximum rate relief amount as calculated under regulation 21(1)(e) (maximum rate relief).

(3) Where the result of the rate relief formula is zero or a negative amount there shall be no entitlement to a payment of rate relief.

Modification of Part VIII
23. Part VIII of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (calculation of weekly amounts and changes of circumstances) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(a) as if for "dwelling" and "dwellings", wherever they occur, there were substituted "hereditament" and "hereditaments" respectively;

(b) as if for "housing benefit", wherever it occurs, there were substituted "rate relief";

(c) as if for "benefit week" and "benefit weeks", wherever they occur, there were substituted "rate relief week" and "rate relief weeks" respectively;

(d) as if in regulation 55—

(e) as if in regulation 57—

(ii) in paragraphs (2) and (3) after "Appeals Regulations" there were inserted "as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 42";

(iii) in paragraphs (3) and (4) after "regulation 7(6)" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 11";

(iv) in paragraph (5)—

(v) in paragraph (10) the words from "except in a case" to the end of that paragraph were omitted;

(vi) in paragraph (11) after "or (10)" there were inserted of the Housing Benefit Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 11”;

(vii) in paragraph (12) after "regulation 53" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 21";

(f) as if in regulation 58—

(iv) in paragraph (10) after "regulation 25(1)" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(g) as if in regulation 59—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 23";

(v) in paragraph (5) after "Parts V to VII" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulations 17, 19 and 21";

(vi) in paragraph (8)—

(vii) in paragraph (9) "(2) or" were omitted;

(viii) in paragraph (10)—

(h) as if in regulation 60—

(iv) in paragraph (2)—

(v) in paragraph (3)(a)—

(vi) in paragraph (3)(b)—

(vii) in paragraph (4)—

Date on which entitlement is to commence
24. A person who makes a claim within one month of his receipt of a decision on his claim to housing benefit and he is entitled to rate relief he shall be entitled to that rate relief from the rate relief week corresponding to the benefit week from which he is entitled to housing benefit.

PART 9
Claims
Modification of Part IX and Schedule 10
25. —(1) Part IX of the Housing Benefit Regulations[13] (claims) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(e) as if in regulation 62A after "Schedule 10" there were inserted "to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 25";

(f) as if in regulation 63—

(g) as if—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 25;";

(h) as if in regulation 65(5)(c)—

there were inserted " of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modification for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(i) as if in regulation 65A after "Schedule 10" there were inserted "to the Housing Benefit Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 25".

    (2) Schedule 10 to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations[14] (electronic communication) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modification as if in paragraph 2(1) for "housing benefit" there were substituted "rate relief".

Making a claim for rate relief
     26. Subject to regulation 25(2), every claim for rate relief shall be made in writing on a form approved by the Department for the purpose of rate relief, or in such other manner, being in writing, as the Department may accept as sufficient in the circumstances of any particular case.

Claims in advance for rate relief
     27. Where a claim is received by a relevant authority prior to 1st April 2007 it shall be treated as having been made on 1st April 2007.

Entitlement dependent on claim
     28. Entitlement to a payment of rate relief shall be dependent upon a claim for rate relief being made in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations.

PART 10
Decisions on questions
Modification of Part X and Schedule 9
29. —(1) Part X of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (decisions on questions) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 25";

(ii) in paragraph (3)(a) after "Housing Benefit Regulations" and "those Regulations" there were inserted "as applied with modifications for the purposes of the Rate Relief (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 by regulation 22 of those Regulations";

(b) as if in regulation 67(1) after "Schedule 9" there were inserted "to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 29".

(2) Schedule 9 to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (matters to be included in decision notice) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 29";

(d) as if in paragraph 7 "II," were omitted;

(e) as if in paragraph 9—

(ii) in sub-paragraph (2)—

(f) as if—

there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 30";

(g) as if in paragraph 13 after "regulation 22" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19";

(h) if in paragraph 14(1)(a)—

(iii) sub-head (iii) were omitted;

(i) as if in paragraph 15—

PART 11
Payments
Modification of Part XI
30. Part XI of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (payments) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the modifications set out in the following paragraphs—

(ii) in paragraph (2) for "that benefit" there were substituted "rate relief";

(iii) in paragraph (3) for "70 to 75" there were substituted "72 to 75 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 30";

(e) as if regulations 69, 70 and 71 were omitted;

(f) as if in regulation 72—

(g) as if in regulation 73—

(ii) in paragraph (2)—

(iii) in paragraph (3) for "rate rebate" there were substituted "rate relief";

(iv) in paragraph (4) for "rent allowance or rate rebate" there were substituted "rate relief";

(h) as if in regulation 74—

(ii) paragraph (2) were omitted;

(iii) in paragraph (3) for "rent allowance or rate rebate" there were substituted "rate relief";

(iv) in paragraph (4)—

(v) in paragraph (5) after "regulation 73" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 30";

(i) as if in regulation 75—

(j) as if in regulation 76—

PART 12
Overpayments
Application of section 73 of the Administration Act
31. Section 73(1), (2), (3)(a) and (b) and (7) of the Administration Act shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

Modification of Part XII
32. Part XII of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (overpayments) shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(a) as if for "housing benefit", wherever it occurs, there were substituted "rate relief";

(b) as if for "benefit week" and "benefit weeks", wherever they occur, there were substituted "rate relief week" and "rate relief weeks" respectively;

(c) as if for "dwelling", wherever it occurs, there were substituted "hereditament";

(d) as if in regulation 77—

(e) as if in regulation 78—

(f) as if in regulation 79—

(ii) in paragraph (2) after "Administration Act" there were inserted "as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 31";

(iii) in paragraph (3) after "regulation 73" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 30";

(iv) in paragraph (4) after "regulation 78(3)" there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 32";

(g) as if regulation 80—

(ii) paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (7) and (8) were omitted;

(h) as if in regulation 81(1) after “regulation 78(2) there were inserted "of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 32";

(i) as if in regulation 82(2)—

(j) as if regulations 83 to 85 were omitted.

Destination of repayments, etc.
33. —(1) Any sum recovered by, received by or repaid to a relevant authority under or by virtue of any provision of these Regulations shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland.

(2) All penalties recovered by or for a relevant authority under or by virtue of any provision of these Regulations shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland.

PART 13
Supply of Information
Supply of information
     34. Where information or evidence relating to a rate relief claim has been received at an office of a relevant authority that is not the appropriate office that authority shall forward the information or evidence received to the appropriate office.

Sharing of information
     35. Where information is given and evidence is gathered in relation to a claim for housing benefit that information or evidence may be used in relation to a claim for rate relief but only where the claimant has given permission, in writing, for such information or evidence to be shared.

Supply of government information for fraud prevention and verification
     36. —(1) This regulation applies to information which is held by, or by a person providing services to, a Minister of the Crown or a Northern Ireland department or other government department and which relates to any matter relating to rate relief.

    (2) Information to which this regulation applies may be supplied to, or to a person providing services to, the Department—

(3) Information supplied under paragraph (2) shall not be supplied by the recipient to any other person or body unless—

(4) But where information supplied under paragraph (2) has been used (in accordance with sub-paragraph (b) of that paragraph) in amending or supplementing other information, it is lawful for it to be—

(5) This regulation does not limit the circumstances in which information may be supplied apart from this regulation.

Supply of information to the Executive
37. —(1) This regulation applies to information relating to rate relief which is held—

(a) by the Department; or

(b) by a person providing services to the Department in connection with the provision of those services.

(2) Information to which this regulation applies may be supplied to—

(a) the Executive; or

(b) a person authorised to exercise any function of the Executive relating to rate relief,

for use in the administration of rate relief.

(3) But where information to which this regulation applies has been supplied to the Department or the person providing services under regulation 36 it may only be supplied under paragraph (2)—

(a) for use in the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of offences relating to rate relief; or

(b) for use in checking the accuracy of information relating to rate relief and (where appropriate) amending or supplementing such information.

(4) The Department—

(a) may impose conditions on the use of information supplied under paragraph (2); and

(b) may charge a reasonable fee in respect of the cost of supplying information under that paragraph.

(5) Where information is supplied to the Executive or other person under paragraph (2), the Executive or other person shall have regard to it in the exercise of any function relating to rate relief.

(6) Information supplied under paragraph (2) shall not be supplied by the recipient to any other person or body unless—

(a) it is supplied—

(b) it is supplied for the purposes of any civil or criminal proceedings relating to rate relief in the principal Order; or

(c) it is supplied under regulation 38.

(7) This regulation does not limit the circumstances in which information may be supplied apart from it (in particular by reason of regulation 36(4)).

(8) In this regulation and in regulations 38 and 39—

(a) any reference to a person authorised to exercise any function of the Executive relating to housing benefit shall include a reference to a person providing services to the Executive which relate to that benefit; and

(b) any reference to the exercise of any function relating to such a benefit shall include a reference to the provision of any services so relating.

Supply of information by the Executive
38. —(1) The Department may require—

(a) the Executive; or

(b) a person authorised to exercise any function of the Executive relating to rate relief,

to supply rate relief administration information held by the Executive or other person to, or to a person providing services to, the Department for use for any purpose relating to rate relief.

(2) The Department may require—

(a) the Executive; or

(b) a person authorised to exercise any function of the Executive relating to rate relief,

to supply rate relief policy information held by the Executive or other person to, or to a person providing services to, the Department.

    (3) Information shall be supplied under paragraph (1) or (2) in such manner and form, and in accordance with such requirements, as may be specified in directions given by the Department.

    (4) In paragraph (1) "rate relief administration information", in relation to the Executive or other person, means any information which is relevant to the exercise of any function relating to rate relief by the Executive or other person.

    (5) In paragraph (2) "rate relief policy information" means any information which may be relevant to the Department—

(a) in preparing estimates of likely future expenditure on rate relief; or

(b) in developing policy relating to rate relief.

Unauthorised disclosure of information relating to particular persons
39. —(1) A person who is or has been employed in rate relief administration or adjudication is guilty of an offence if he discloses without lawful authority any information which he acquired in the course of his employment and which relates to a particular person.

(2) A person who is or has been employed in the audit of expenditure or the investigation of complaints is guilty of an offence if he discloses without lawful authority any information—

(a) which he acquired in the course of his employment;

(b) which is, or is derived from, information acquired or held by or for the purposes of any of the government departments or other bodies or persons referred to in paragraphs (10) and (11); and

(c) which relates to a particular person.

(3) It is not an offence under this regulation—

(a) to disclose information in the form of a summary or collection of information so framed as not to enable information relating to any particular person to be ascertained from it; or

(b) to disclose information which has previously been disclosed to the public with lawful authority.

(4) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this regulation to prove that at the time of the alleged offence—

(a) he believed that he was making the disclosure in question with lawful authority and had no reasonable cause to believe otherwise; or

(b) he believed that the information in question had previously been disclosed to the public with lawful authority and had no reasonable cause to believe otherwise.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under this regulation shall be liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both; or

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both.

(6) For the purposes of this regulation, the persons who are "employed in rate relief administration or adjudication" are—

(a) any person specified in paragraphs (10) and (11);

(b) any other person who carries out the administrative work of any of the government departments or other bodies or persons referred to in paragraphs (10) and (11); and

(c) any person who provides, or is employed in the provision of, services to any of those departments, persons or bodies;

and "employment", in relation to any such person, shall be construed accordingly.

(7) For the purposes of this regulation, the persons who are "employed in the audit of expenditure or the investigation of complaints" are—

(a) the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland;

(b) the Northern Ireland Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration;

(c) the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints;

(d) any member of the staff of the Northern Ireland Audit Office;

(e) any other person who carries out the administrative work of that Office, or who provides, or is employed in the provision of, services to it; and

(f) any officer of any of the Commissioners or Commissions referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c);

and "employment", in relation to any such person, shall be construed accordingly.

(8) For the purposes of this regulation a disclosure is to be regarded as made with lawful authority if, and only if, it is made—

(a) in accordance with his official duty—

(b) by any other person either—

(c) in accordance with any statutory provision or order of a court;

(d) for the purpose of instituting, or otherwise for the purposes of, any proceedings before a court or before any tribunal or other body or person referred to in paragraphs (10) and (11); or

(e) with the consent of the appropriate person;

and in this subsection "the person responsible" means the Department, the Lord Chancellor or any person authorised by the Department or the Lord Chancellor for the purposes of this paragraph.

(9) For the purposes of paragraph (8)(e), "the appropriate person" means the person to whom the information in question relates, except that if the affairs of that person are being dealt with—

(a) under a power of attorney;

(b) by a controller appointed under Article 101 of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986[

the appropriate person is the attorney, controller, receiver or appointee, as the case may be, or, in a case falling within paragraph (a) above, the person to whom the information relates.

but only to the extent that the appropriate Department carries out functions relating to rate relief.

(b) a civil servant in the Northern Ireland Court Service but only to the extent that the functions carried out relate to functions of the Chief Social Security Commissioner, appointed under section 50(1)(a) of the Administration Act, or any other Social Security Commissioner, appointed under section 50(1)(b) of that Act, and then only in so far as relating to rate relief.

(c) the following persons—

(d) the clerk to, or other officer or member of the staff of, an appeal tribunal constituted under Chapter I of Part II of the 1998 Order, and whose remit has been extended to hear appeals against decisions relating to rate relief.

(11) In paragraph (10)—

PART 14

Decisions, Revisions and Appeals

Modification of the 2000 Act

40.

Schedule 7 to the 2000 Act shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as it applies for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(d) as if paragraph 8(2)(a) were omitted;

(e) as if in paragraph 14(3) for "section 5(1)(hh) of the Administration Act" there were substituted "regulation 45 of these Regulations";

(f) as if paragraph 19(3)(b) and (c) were omitted;

(g) as if in paragraph 20(1)(b) the reference to the Department were a reference to the Department of Finance and Personnel;

(h) as if paragraphs 21 and 22 were omitted.

Modification of the Decisions and Appeals Regulations 1999
41. —(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the provisions in Chapters II to V of Part V of the Decisions and Appeals Regulations 1999 shall apply, in relation to the procedure to be followed in respect of appeals under Schedule 7 to the 2000 Act, to these Regulations as they apply for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(a) as if for "the Department", wherever it occurs, there were substituted "the relevant authority";

(b) as if in regulation 50 after "Article 8(4)" there were inserted "of the 1998 Order";

(c) as if in regulation 53(3) for sub-paragraph (b) there were substituted—

(d) as if in regulation 55(3) "or, as the case may be, a Child Support Commissioner" were omitted;

(e) as if in regulation 56—

(f) as if in regulation 57—

(iii) there were inserted "of the Decisions and Appeals Regulations 1999 as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 41";

(g) as if in regulation 58(1) for "Article 13 or 14" there were substituted "paragraph 6 or 7 of Schedule 7 to the 2000 Act as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 40";

(h) as if for regulation 58A there were substituted—

" 58A. A partner, within the meaning of section 2AA(7) of the Administration Act, may appeal to a Commissioner under paragraph 6 of Schedule 7 to the 2000 Act, as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 40, from a decision of an appeal tribunal in respect of a decision that—

(2) Regulations 38A, 41, 42, 44, 45, 52 and 54(13) shall not apply in relation to the procedure to be followed in respect of appeals under Schedule 7 to the 2000 Act.

Modification of the Decisions and Appeals Regulations
42. The Decisions and Appeals Regulations shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as they apply for the purposes of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations with the following modifications—

(a) as if for "housing benefit", wherever it occurs, there were substituted "rate relief";

(b) as if for "benefit week", wherever it occurs, there were substituted "rate relief week";

(c) as if after "Schedule 7 to the Act", wherever it occurs, there were inserted "as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 40";

(d) as if in regulation 1(2) there were inserted in the appropriate place—

" "the Department" means the Department of Finance and Personnel;";

(e) as if in regulation 2(a) and (b) ", the Department", wherever it occurs were omitted;

(f) as if in regulation 3(1)—

(g) as if regulation 4—

(h) as if regulation 7—

(i) as if in regulation 8—

(j) as if in regulation 11(2)(c) for "section 73 of the Administration Act (overpayments of housing benefit) or regulations made under that section" there were substituted "Part 12 of these Regulations";

(k) as if in regulation 13(2)(c) for "regulation 82 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, regulation 63 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations" there were substituted "regulation 82 of the Housing Benefit Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of the Rate Relief (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 by regulation 26 of those Regulations or, as the case maybe, regulation 63 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 25";

(l) as if regulation 17(2)—

(m) as if regulation 22(2) and regulation 23 were omitted;

(n) as if in the Schedule—

(i) paragraph 1 were omitted;

(ii) in paragraph 1A[

(iii) in paragraph 3 after "the Act" there were inserted "as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 40";

(iv) in paragraph 4 after "these Regulations" and "regulation 14" there were inserted "as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 42";

(v) in paragraph 5 after "the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations" there were inserted "as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 19".

Modification of the Commissioner Procedures Regulations
43. The Social Security Commissioners (Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999[21] Regulations shall apply for the purposes of these Regulations as they apply for the purposes of the Housing Benefit Regulations with the following modifications—

" the Rate Relief Regulations” means the Rate Relief (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and the Rate Relief (Qualifying Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007;";

(iii) the definition of "the Department"[23] were omitted;

(iv) in the definition of "person affected"[24] after "(Northern Ireland) 2001" there were inserted "as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 42";

(v) in the definition of "relevant authority"[25] after "to the 2000 Act" there were inserted "as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 40";

(vi) in paragraph (2)[26]—

(d) as if—

(iii) in regulation 11(2)—

(iv) in regulation 12(1) after "regulation 11(2)";

(v) in regulation 14(3)[27] after "regulation 15(2)",

there were inserted "of the Social Security Commissioners (Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 43";

(e) as if in regulation 15[28]—

(f) as if in regulation 18(4)[29] after "regulation 20" there were inserted "of the Social Security Commissioners (Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 43";

(g) as if in regulation 19[30]—

(h) as if in regulation 20(4) after "and 19" there were inserted "of the Social Security Commissioners (Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 43";

(i) as if in regulation 24(6)(ff)[31] for "housing benefit" there were substituted "rate relief";

(j) as if in regulation 28(2)[32] after "to the 2000 Act" there were inserted "as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 40";

(k) as if—

there were inserted "of the Social Security Commissioners (Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 43";

(l) as if in regulation 32(1)[33] after "to the 2000 Act" there were inserted "as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 40";

(m) as if in regulation 33[34]—

(iv) in paragraph (4)—

(v) in paragraph (5) after "regulation 26" there were inserted "of the Social Security Commissioners (Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 43".

PART 15

Enforcement

Authorisations for investigators

44.

—(1) An individual who for the time being has the Department's authorisation for the purposes of this Part, shall be entitled, for any one or more of the purposes mentioned in paragraph (2), to exercise any of the powers which are conferred on an authorised officer by regulation 45 (provision of information).

(2) Those purposes are—

(3) An individual has the Department's authorisation for the purposes of this Part, if, and only if, the Department has granted him an authorisation for those purposes and he is—

(4) An authorisation granted for the purposes of this Part, to an individual of any of the descriptions mentioned in paragraph (3)—

(5) An authorisation granted under this regulation may be withdrawn at any time by the Department.

(6) Where the Department grants an authorisation for the purposes of this Part, to an individual employed by the Executive, or to an individual authorised to carry out functions of the Executive relating to rate relief—

    (7) The matters on which a person may be authorised to consider and report to the Department under regulation 56 shall be taken to include the carrying out by any such individual as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) or (c) of paragraph (3) of any functions conferred on that individual by virtue of any grant by the Department of an authorisation for the purposes of this Part.

    (8) The powers conferred by regulation 45 shall be exercisable in relation to persons holding office under the Crown and persons in the service of the Crown, and in relation to premises owned or occupied by the Crown, as they are exercisable in relation to other persons and premises.

Provision of information
     45. —(1) An authorised officer who has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person—

(a) is a person falling within paragraph (2); and

(b) has or may have possession of or access to any information about any matter that is relevant for any one or more of the purposes mentioned in regulation 44(2),

may, by written notice, require that person to provide all such information described in the notice as is information of which he has possession, or to which he has access, and which it is reasonable for the authorised officer to require for a purpose so mentioned.

(2) The persons who fall within this paragraph are—

(a) any person who is or has been an employer or employee within the meaning of any provision made by or under the Act;

(b) any person who is or has been a self-employed earner within the meaning of any such provision;

(c) any person who by virtue of any provision made by or under the Act falls, or has fallen, to be treated for the purposes of any such provision as a person within sub-paragraph (a) or (b);

(d) any person who is carrying on, or has carried on, any business involving the supply of goods for sale to the ultimate consumers by individuals not carrying on retail businesses from retail premises;

(e) any person who is carrying on, or has carried on, any business involving the supply of goods or services by the use of work done or services performed by persons other than employees of his;

(f) any person who is carrying on, or has carried on, an agency or other business for the introduction or supply, to persons requiring them, of persons available to do work or to perform services;

(g) any district council acting in its capacity as an authority responsible for the granting of any licence;

(h) any person who is or has been a trustee or manager of a personal or occupational pension scheme as defined in the Administration Act; and

(i) the servants and agents of any such person as is specified in any of sub-paragraphs (a) to (h).

(3) The obligation of a person to provide information in accordance with a notice under this regulation shall be discharged only by the provision of that information, at such reasonable time and in such form as may be specified in the notice, to the authorised officer who—

(a) is identified by or in accordance with the terms of the notice; or

(b) has been identified, since the giving of the notice, by a further written notice given by the authorised officer who imposed the original requirement or another authorised officer.

(4) The power of an authorised officer under this regulation to require the provision of information shall include a power to require the production and delivery up and (if necessary) creation of, or of copies of or extracts from any such documents containing the information as may be specified or described in the notice imposing the requirement.

(5) A person shall not be required under this regulation to provide—

(a) any information that tends to incriminate either himself or, in the case of a person who is married or is a civil partner, his spouse or civil partner; or

(b) any information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege would be successful in any proceedings;

and for the purposes of this paragraph it is immaterial whether the information is in documentary form or not.

Authorisations by Housing Executive
46. —(1) An individual who for the time being has the authorisation of the Executive for the purposes of this Part, ("a Housing Executive authorisation") shall be entitled, for any one or more of the purposes mentioned in paragraph (2), to exercise any of the powers which, subject to paragraph (7), are conferred on an authorised officer by regulation 45 (power to require information).

(2) Those purposes are—

(a) ascertaining in relation to any case whether rate relief is or was payable in that case;

(b) ascertaining whether provisions of the principal Order that relate to rate relief are being, have been or are likely to be contravened (whether by particular persons or more generally);

(c) preventing, detecting and securing evidence of the commission (whether by particular persons or more generally) of rate relief offences.

(3) An individual has the authorisation of the Executive, for the purposes of this Part, if, and only if, the Executive has granted him an authorisation for those purposes and he is—

(a) an individual employed by the Executive;

(b) an individual authorised to carry out functions of the Executive relating to rate relief; or

(c) an official of a government department.

    (4) Regulation 44(4) shall apply in relation to a Housing Executive authorisation as it applies in relation to an authorisation under regulation 44.

    (5) A Housing Executive authorisation may be withdrawn at any time by the Executive or by the Department.

    (6) It shall be the duty of the Executive to comply with any directions of the Department as to—

(a) whether or not Housing Executive authorisations are to be granted by the Executive;

(b) the period for which authorisations granted by the Executive are to have effect;

(c) the number of persons who may be granted authorisations by the Executive at any one time; and

(d) the restrictions to be contained by virtue of subsection (4) above in the authorisations granted by the Executive for those purposes.

(7) The powers conferred by regulation 45 shall have effect in the case of an individual who is an authorised officer by virtue of this regulation as if regulation 45 had effect—

(a) with the substitution for every reference to the purposes mentioned in regulation 44(2) of a reference to the purposes mentioned in paragraph (2); and

(b) with the substitution for every reference to the principal Order of a reference to so much of it as relates to rate relief.

Delay, obstruction etc. of inspector
47. If a person refuses or neglects to answer any question or to furnish any information or to produce any document when required to do so under these Regulations, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

False representations for obtaining relief
48. —(1) If a person for the purpose of obtaining rate relief under the principal Order, whether for himself or some other person, or for any other purpose connected with that legislation—

(a) makes a statement or representation which he knows to be false; or

(b) produces or furnishes, or knowingly causes or knowingly allows to be produced or furnished, any document or information which he knows to be false in a material particular,

he shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) A person shall be guilty of an offence if—

(a) there has been a change of circumstances affecting any entitlement of his to rate relief under any provision of the principal Order;

(b) the change is not a change that is required to be notified;

(c) he knows that the change affects an entitlement of his to such rate relief; and

(d) he fails to give a prompt notification of that change in the prescribed manner to the prescribed person.

    (3) For the purposes of paragraph (2) a notification of a change is prompt if, and only if, it is given as soon as reasonably practicable after the change occurs.

    (4) A person guilty of an offence under this regulation shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both.

Breach of regulations
     49. —(1) A person who contravenes, or fails to comply with, any provision of these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence.

    (2) A person guilty of such an offence as is mentioned in paragraph (1) shall be liable on summary conviction—

(a) to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale;

(b) in the case of an offence of continuing a contravention or failure after conviction, to a fine not exceeding £40 for each day on which it is so continued.

Penalty as alternative to prosecution
50. —(1) This regulation applies where an overpayment is recoverable from a person by, or due from a person to, the Department or the Executive under or by virtue of regulation 32 and it appears to the Department or the Executive that—

(a) the making of the overpayment was attributable to an act or omission on the part of that person; and

(b) there are grounds for instituting against him proceedings for an offence (under the principal Order or any other statutory provision) relating to the overpayment.

(2) The Department or the Executive may give to the person a written notice—

(a) stating that he may be invited to agree to pay a penalty and that, if he does so in the manner specified by the Department or the Executive, no such proceedings will be instituted against him; and

(b) containing such information relating to the amount and period of the overpayment.

(3) The amount of the penalty shall be 30 per cent. of the amount of the overpayment (rounded down to the nearest whole penny).

(4) If the person agrees in the specified manner to pay the penalty—

(a) the amount of the penalty shall be recoverable by the same methods as those by which the overpayment is recoverable; and

(b) no proceedings will be instituted against him for an offence (under the principal Order or any other statutory provision) relating to the overpayment.

(5) The person may withdraw his agreement to pay the penalty by notifying the Department or the Executive, in the manner specified by the Department or the Executive, at any time during the period of 28 days beginning with, and including, the day on which he agrees to pay it; and if he does so—

(a) so much of the penalty as has already been recovered shall be repaid; and

(b) paragraph (4)(b) shall not apply.

(6) Where, after the person has agreed to pay the penalty, it is decided on a review or appeal that the overpayment is not recoverable or due, so much of the penalty as has already been recovered shall be repaid.

(7) Where, after the person has agreed to pay the penalty, the amount of the overpayment is revised on a review or appeal—

(a) so much of the penalty as has already been recovered shall be repaid; and

(b) paragraph (4)(b) shall no longer apply by reason of the agreement; but if a new agreement is made under this regulation in relation to the revised overpayment, the amount already recovered by way of penalty, to the extent that it does not exceed the amount of the new penalty, may be treated as recovered under the new agreement instead of being repaid.

    (8) Subject to paragraph (9), the Department and the Executive may agree that, to the extent determined by the agreement, one may carry out on the other's behalf, or may join in the carrying out of, any of the other's functions under this regulation.

    (9) Paragraph (8) shall not authorise any delegation of the function of the person by whom any overpayment is recoverable, or to whom it is due, of determining whether or not a notice should be given under paragraph (2) in respect of that overpayment.

    (10) In this regulation "overpayment" means—

(a) a payment which should not have been made;

(b) a sum which the Department should have received;

(c) an amount of rate relief paid in excess of entitlement; or

(d) an amount equal to an excess of rate relief allowed;

and the reference in paragraph (1)(a) to the making of the overpayment is to the making of the payment, the failure to receive the sum, the payment of rate relief in excess of entitlement or the allowing of an excess of rate relief.

Notice
51. —(1) Where the Department or the Executive gives to a person a written notice under regulation 50(2), the notice shall contain the information that—

(a) the penalty only applies to an overpayment which is recoverable under section 73 of the Administration Act as applied with modifications for the purposes of these Regulations by regulation 31;

(b) the penalty only applies where it appears to the relevant authority that the making of the overpayment was attributable to an act or omission by the person and that there are grounds for instituting proceedings for an offence relating to the overpayment;

(c) the penalty is 30 per cent. of the amount of the overpayment, is payable in addition to repayment of the overpayment and is recoverable by the same methods as those by which the overpayment is recoverable;

(d) a person who agrees to pay a penalty may withdraw the agreement within 28 days (including the date of the agreement) by notifying the relevant authority in the manner specified by the relevant authority; if the person withdraws the agreement, so much of the penalty as has already been recovered shall be repaid and the person will no longer be immune from proceedings for an offence;

(e) if it is decided on review or appeal (or in accordance with regulations) that the overpayment is not recoverable or due, so much of the penalty as has already been recovered shall be repaid;

(f) if the amount of the overpayment is revised on review or appeal, except as covered by a new agreement to pay the revised penalty, so much of the penalty as has already been recovered shall be repaid and the person will no longer be immune from proceedings for an offence;

(g) the payment of a penalty does not give the person immunity from prosecution in relation to any other overpayment or any offence not relating to an overpayment.

(2) The notice shall set out—

(a) the manner specified by the relevant authority by which the person may agree to pay a penalty;

(b) the manner specified by the relevant authority by which the person may notify the withdrawal of his agreement to pay a penalty.

Legal proceedings
     52. —(1) Any person authorised by the Department or the Executive in that behalf may conduct any proceedings under any provision of the principal Order relating to rate relief before a magistrates' court, although not a barrister or solicitor.

    (2) Notwithstanding anything in any statutory provision proceedings for an offence under the principal Order relating to rate relief may be begun at any time within the period of 3 months from the date on which evidence, sufficient in the opinion of the Department or the Executive to justify a prosecution for the offence, comes to its knowledge or within a period of 12 months from the commission of the offence, whichever period last expires.

    (3) For the purposes of paragraph (2) a certificate purporting to be signed by or on behalf of the Minister in charge of the Department or by a senior officer of the Department or by a member of the Executive or by an officer of the Executive authorised by it to act for the purposes of this regulation as to the date on which such evidence as is mentioned in paragraph (2) came to its or the Executive's knowledge shall be conclusive evidence of that date.

    (4) Subject to paragraph (5), in proceedings for an offence under the principal Order relating to rate relief, the wife or husband of the accused is competent to give evidence, whether for or against the accused.

    (5) The wife or husband is not compellable either to give evidence or, in giving evidence, to disclose any communication made to her or him by the accused during the marriage.

Interpretation of enforcement provisions
     53. —(1) In this Part "authorised officer" means a person acting in accordance with any authorisation for the purposes of this Part, which is for the time being in force in relation to him.

    (2) For the purposes of this Part—

(a) references to a document include references to anything in which information is recorded in electronic or any other form;

(b) the requirement that a notice given by an authorised officer be in writing shall be taken to be satisfied in any case where the contents of the notice—

(3) In this Part, "premises" includes—

(a) moveable structures and vehicles, vessels, aircraft and hovercraft;

(b) installations that are offshore installations for the purposes of the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971[

and references in this Part to the occupier of any premises shall be construed, in relation to premises that are not occupied as land, as references to any person for the time being present at the place in question.

(4) In this Part—

"rate relief offence" means—

(5) In this Part—

PART 16

Rate Relief Finance

Rate relief finance

54.

—(1) The Department shall, in respect of each financial year, pay to the Executive a grant towards the expenditure incurred or to be incurred by the Executive in that year by way of payment of rate relief (including, if the Department so determines, an amount towards the cost of administering rate relief).

    (2) The amount of the grant under paragraph (1) which is to be paid to the Executive shall be such as the Department shall determine.

    (3) A grant under paragraph (1) shall be paid to the Executive at such time and in such manner as the Department may think fit.

Claims for finance etc.

55.

—(1) The Department, unless it otherwise determines, shall not pay a grant under regulation 54 until the Executive has made a claim for it in such form and manner as the Department may determine.

(2) The Department may withhold from the Executive so much of any grant under regulation 54 as it thinks fit until either—

    (3) If the Executive fails to make a claim for a grant within such period as the Department considers reasonable, the Department may withhold from the Executive such part of the grant as it thinks fit for so long as it thinks fit.

    (4) Where the amount of the grant paid to the Executive for any year is found to be incorrect, the amount of the grant payable to it for any subsequent year may be adjusted for the purpose of rectifying that mistake in whole or in part.

Persons to report on administration
     56. —(1) The Department may authorise persons to consider and report to it on the administration by the Executive of rate relief and, in particular, the Executive's performance in the prevention and detection of fraud relating to that relief.

    (2) A person may be authorised under paragraph (1) on such terms and for such period as the Department thinks fit.

Powers of investigation
     57. —(1) A person authorised under regulation 56—

(a) has a right of access at all reasonable times to any document relating to the administration of rate relief;

(b) is entitled to require from any person holding or accountable for any such document such information and explanation as he thinks necessary; and

(c) is entitled, if he thinks it necessary, to require any such person to produce any such document or to attend before him in person to give such information or explanation.

(2) A person authorised under regulation 56(1) is entitled to require any officer or member of the Executive or any person involved in the administration of rate relief for the Executive—

(a) to give him such information and explanation relating to the administration of rate relief as he thinks necessary; and

(b) if he thinks it necessary, to require any such person to attend before him in person to give the information or explanation.

(3) A person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with a requirement under paragraph (1) or (2) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(4) A person authorised under paragraph (1) may—

(a) require any document or information which is to be given to him under paragraph (1) or (2) to be given in any form reasonably specified by him; and

(b) take copies of any document produced to him.

    (5) In this regulation "document" means anything in which information of any description is recorded.

Reports
     58. —(1) A report about the Executive by a person authorised under regulation 56(1) may include recommendations about improvements which could be made by the Executive in its administration of rate relief and, in particular, in the prevention and detection of fraud relating to that relief.

    (2) When the Department receives a report about the Executive from a person authorised under regulation 56(1) it shall send a copy to the Executive.

Directions by Department

Directions

59.

—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) a copy of a report has been sent to the Executive under regulation 58(2) (reports);

(b) a report has been laid before the Assembly under Article 21(5) of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981[

(2) The Department may invite the Executive to consider the report and to submit proposals for—

(3) After considering the report and any proposals made by the Executive in response to it, the Department may give directions to the Executive as to—

(4) When giving directions to the Executive under paragraph (3), the Department may make recommendations to the Executive setting out any course of action which the Department thinks the Executive might take to attain the standards which it is directed to attain.

Information about attainment of standards
60. —(1) Where directions have been given to the Executive under regulation 59(3), the Department may require the Executive to supply to it any information which the Department considers may assist it in deciding—

(a) whether the Executive has attained the standards which it has been directed to attain; or

(b) whether the Executive is likely to attain those standards within the time specified in the directions.

(2) Information may be supplied under paragraph (1) in such manner and form as the Department may require.

Enforcement notices
61. —(1) Where directions have been given to the Executive under regulation 59(3) and the Department—

(a) is not satisfied that the Executive has attained the standards which it has been directed to attain; or

(b) is not satisfied that the Executive is likely to attain those standards within the time specified in the directions,

the Department may serve on the Executive a written notice under this regulation.

(2) The notice shall—

(a) identify the directions and state why the Department is not satisfied as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of paragraph (1); and

(b) require the Executive to submit a written response to the Department within a time specified in the notice.

(3) If any person (other than the Executive) carrying out work relating to the administration of rate relief may be affected by any determination which may be made under regulation 62 (enforcement determination), the Executive shall—

(a) consult that person before submitting its response; and

(b) include in its response any relevant observations made by that person.

(4) The Executive's response shall either—

(a) state that the Executive has attained the standards, or is likely to attain them within the time specified in the directions, and justify that statement; or

(b) state that the Executive has not attained the standards, or is not likely to attain them within that time, and (if the Executive wishes) give reasons why a determination under regulation 62 should not be made or should not include any particular provision.

    (5) The notice may relate to any one or more matters covered by the directions.

    (6) The serving of a notice under this regulation relating to any directions or matter does not prevent the serving of further notices under this regulation relating to the same directions or matter.

Enforcement determination
     62. —(1) Where, after the time specified in the notice under regulation 61, has expired, the Department—

(a) is not satisfied that the Executive has attained the standards in question; or

(b) is not satisfied that the Executive is likely to attain those standards within the time specified in the directions,

the Department may make a determination under this regulation.

(2) The determination may be made whether or not the Executive has responded to the notice under regulation 61.

(3) The determination shall be designed to secure the attainment of the standards in question and—

(a) shall include provision such as is specified in paragraph (4); and

(b) may also include provision such as is specified in paragraph (5).

(4) The provision referred to in paragraph (3)(a) is provision that the Executive must comply with specified requirements as to inviting, preparing, considering and accepting bids to carry out any work which—

(a) falls to be carried out in pursuance of the Executive's functions relating to the administration of rate relief; and

(b) is of a description specified in the determination.

(5) The provision referred to in paragraph (3)(b) is provision of any one or more of the following kinds relating to the work, or any specified category of the work, to which the determination relates—

(a) provision that it may not be carried out by the Executive;

(b) provision that it may not be carried out by any person (other than the Executive) who has been carrying it out; and

(c) provision that any contract made by the Executive with any person for carrying it out shall include terms requiring a level of performance which will secure, or contribute to securing, the attainment of the standards in question.

Enforcement determination: Supplementary
     63. —(1) The provisions included in a determination, under regulation 62, shall take effect from a date specified in the determination; and different dates may be specified in relation to different provisions.

    (2) The making of a determination under regulation 62 in relation to any directions which does not prevent the making of further determinations under that paragraph in relation to the same directions.

    (3) The provision included in a determination by virtue of regulation 62(3) may include—

(a) requirements that the Department be satisfied as to any specified matter; and

(b) requirements that the Department authorise or consent to any specified matter.

    (4) The provision so included may also include provision as to the time at which any contract for the carrying out of work to which the determination relates (and which is not previously discharged) is to be taken to be frustrated by the determination.

    (5) A determination under regulation 62 shall have effect in spite of any statutory provision under or by virtue of which the Executive is required or authorised to carry out any work to which the determination relates.

Role of NIAO auditors in relation to rate relief
     64. —(1) The Department may request an auditor of the Northern Ireland Audit Office ("NIAO auditor") to conduct or assist the Department in conducting studies designed to improve economy, efficiency, effectiveness and quality of performance in the discharge by the Executive of functions relating to the administration of rate relief.

    (2) In this regulation "study" means a study which a NIAO auditor is requested to conduct, or assist the Department in conducting, under paragraph (1).

    (3) If a NIAO auditor requires the Executive or any officer or member of the Executive to supply him or an authorised person with such information as is needed for the purposes of the study, the Executive or officer or member shall supply the information.

    (4) If a NIAO auditor requires the Executive to make available for inspection by him or by an authorised person documents which relate to the Executive and are needed for the purposes of the study, the Executive shall make the documents available.

    (5) Any information obtained under a requirement under paragraph (3) or (4) may be disclosed by a NIAO auditor to the Department for the purposes of any of its functions which are connected with rate relief.

    (6) In paragraphs (3) and (4) "authorised person" means a person authorised by a NIAO auditor for the purposes of this regulation.

    (7) A NIAO auditor shall send to the Department a copy of any report of a study; and the Department or a NIAO auditor may send a copy of a report of a study to the Executive.

    (8) Any report of a study may be published by the Department.

    (9) A NIAO auditor shall not conduct, or assist the Department in conducting, a study unless, before he does so, the Department has made arrangements for the payment of such reasonable amount as may be agreed between it and the auditor in respect of the study.

    (10) The Department may supply to a NIAO auditor any information held by it which relates to rate relief and which appears to it to be relevant to the exercise of any function of the auditor.

PART 17

Payment of travelling expenses by Department
Payment of travelling expenses by Department

65.

The relevant authority may pay such travelling expenses as it may determine—

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on

23rd Month 2007

L.S.

Brian McClure
A senior officer of the Department of Finance and Personnel

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations provide for rate relief for claimants who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit. In the case of a woman that age is pensionable age and in the case of a man it is the age which is pensionable age in the case of a woman born on the same day as the man (section 1(6) of the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002). These Regulations do not however apply if either the claimant or the claimant's partner is in receipt of income support or an income-based jobseeker's allowance, notwithstanding that the claimant has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit. Provisions relating to those claimants and others who have not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit are contained in the Rate Relief (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.

These Regulations, in the main, modify the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006 No. 405) ("the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations") for the purposes only of rate relief.

Part 1 of the Regulations contains general provisions, modification of regulations 3 to 6 of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations and arrangements for rate relief.

Part 2 makes provision as to entitlement to and exclusion from rate relief. It contains modifications which makes provision in relation to the circumstances in which a person is or is not to be treated as occupying a hereditament as his home and is or is not to be treated as liable to make payments for a hereditament. It also contains modifications of Part II of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations, the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (1999 c. 33) and the Social Security (Immigration and Asylum) Consequential Amendments Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (S.R. 2000 No. 71).

Part 3 modifies Part III of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations to specify those payments by way of rates which are to be eligible for the payment of rate relief.

Part 4 modifies sections 133(1) and 138 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (1992 c. 7) ("the Act") and Part IV of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations to specify the circumstances in which a person is or is not to be treated as responsible for another person and who is to be treated as a member of the same household as a claimant for rate relief.

Part 5 modifies Part V of and Schedule 4 to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations to provide for the calculation of the applicable amount in respect of a person's entitlement to rate relief, by reference to which the amount of his relief is calculated.

Part 6 modifies section 132(1) of the Act and Part VI of and Schedules 5, 6 and 7 to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations and contains provisions enabling the income and capital of a person to whom these Regulations apply to be determined. They provide in particular—

Part 7 modifies Part VII of and Schedules 8 and 9 to the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations to provide for the maximum amount of rate relief payable, extended payments and non-dependant deductions.

Part 8 modifies Part VIII of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations. It provides, by the use of a formula, for the calculation of the weekly amount of rate relief and contains provisions as to when rate relief is to begin, together with provisions relating to change of circumstances and the date those changes take effect.

Part 9 modifies Part IX of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations to provide for the making, amendment and withdrawal of claims, the evidence and information required in connection with claims and the duty to notify changes of circumstances. It also provides for the treatment of claims made prior to 1 April 2007 and for payment of rate relief to be dependent on a claim being made.

Part 10 modifies Part X of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations to provide for the determination of questions arising on claims and the notification of decisions by authorities.

Part 11 modifies Part XI of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations to provide for the payment of rate relief, including to whom payments are to be made and the withholding of rate relief.

Part 12 modifies section 73(1), (2), (3)(a) and (b) and (7) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (1992 c. 8) and Part XII of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations to provide for the recovery of overpaid rate relief, what constitutes a recoverable overpayment and the method of recovery. It also provides for sums recovered to be paid into the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland.

Part 13 provides for the supply, sharing and unauthorised disclosure of information which relates to any matter relating to rate relief for fraud prevention and verification.

Part 14 provides the appeals procedures for rate relief. It modifies Schedule 7 to the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000 (2000 c. 4 (N.I.)), Chapters II to V of Part V of the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (S.R. 1999 No. 162) the Social Security Commissioners (Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (S.R. 1999 No. 225) and the Housing Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (S.R. 2001 No. 213) for the purposes of these Regulations.

Part 15 contains provisions relating to enforcement purposes in relation to matters connected with rate relief, including authorisations, the provision of information, delay or obstruction of inspectors, false representations, breach of regulations, penalties as alternatives to prosecution, notices and legal proceedings.

Part 16 contains provisions relating to finance, persons to report on administration and their powers of investigation, reports about the Northern Ireland Housing Executive ("the Executive"), directions by the Department of Finance and Personnel ("the Department"), information about, notice on and the making of a determination on the attainment of standards attained by the Executive and the role of auditors of the Northern Ireland Audit Office in relation to rate relief.

Part 17 contains provisions relating to payment of travelling expenses by the Department.

Notes:

[1] Formerly the Department of Finance: seeS.I. 1982/338 (N.I. 6) Article 3

back

[2] S.I. 1977/2157 (N.I. 28); Article 30A was inserted by Article 14 of S.I. 2006/2954 (N.I. 18)back

[3] S.R. 2007 No. 204 back

[4] S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10)back

[5] 2000 c. 4 (N.I.)back

[6] S.R. 1999 No. 162 back

[7] S.R. 2006 No. 405 back

[8] S.R. 2006 No. 405 back

[9] S.I. 1992/1725 (N.I. 15)back

[10] 1999 c. 33 back

[11] S.R. 2000 No. 71 back

[12] The sums specified in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 4 to S.R. 2006 No. 406 were set out in Schedule 8 to S.R. 2007 No. 153 back

[13] Regulations 81, 83 and 84 were amended by regulation 2 of S.R. 2006 No. 462 and regulations 81A and 84A were inserted by regulation 2 of S.R. 2006 No. 463 back

[14] Schedule 10 was inserted by Article 3(5) of S.R. 2006 No. 463 back

[15] S.I. 1986/595 (N.I.)back

[16] 1983 c. 20 back

[17] 2000 asp4 back

[18] S.R. 1980 No. 346 back

[19] S.I. 1984/2035 back

[20] Paragraph 1A of the Schedule was inserted by paragraph 3(7)(b) of Schedule 2 to S.R. 2006 No. 407 back

[21] S.R. 1999 No. 225 back

[22] The definition of "the chairman" was amended by regulation 2(3) of S.R. 2007 No. 146 back

[23] The definition of "the Department" was substituted by regulation 2(3) of S.R. 2007 No. 146 back

[24] The definition of "person affected" was inserted by regulation 2(3) of S.R. 2007 No. 146 back

[25] The definition of "relevant authority" was inserted by regulation 2(3) of S.R. 2007 No. 146 back

[26] Regulation 4(2) was inserted by regulation 2(3) of S.R. 2007 No. 146 back

[27] Regulation 14(3) was amended by regulation 2(7) of S.R. 2007 No. 146 back

[28] Regulation 15 was amended by regulation 2(8) of S.R. 2007 No. 146 back

[29] Regulation 18(4) was inserted by regulation 2(9) of S.R. 2007 No. 146 back

[30] Regulation 19 was amended by regulation 2(10) of S.R. 2007 No. 146 back

[31] Regulation 24(6)(ff) was inserted by regulation 2(11) of S.R. 2007 No. 146 back

[32] Regulation 28(2) was amended by regulation 2(12) of S.R. 2007 No. 146 back

[33] Regulation 32(1) was amended by regulation 2(15) of S.R. 2007 No. 146 back

[34] Regulation 33 was amended by regulation 2(16) of S.R. 2007 No. 146 back

[35] 1971 c. 61 back

[36] S.I. 1981/156 (N.I. 3)back

Prepared 13 April 2007

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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland >> The Rate Relief (Qualifying Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 No. 203 URL: http://www.bailii.org/nie/legis/num_reg/2007/20070203.html