Citation and commencement

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Benefit Cap (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016.

(2) This regulation and regulations 2, 4, and 6 come into operation on 7th November 2016.

(3) Regulation 3 comes into operation on the day on which Article 6 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (universal credit) comes into operation for all purposes in respect of the whole or any part of Northern Ireland.

(4) Regulation 5 comes into operation immediately after the coming into operation of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(5).

Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

2.-(1) The Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(6) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (5).

(2) For regulation 73B (determination of whether a benefit cap applies) substitute-

"Determinations

73B.-(1) A relevant authority may make a determination as to whether the benefit cap applies or whether to change the amount of any reduction made in accordance with regulation 73D (reduction of housing benefit) but a relevant authority is not required to do so unless paragraph (2) applies.

(2) This paragraph applies where a relevant authority receives notification from the Department that-

(a)the benefit cap may apply;

(b)there has been a change in the amount of a welfare benefit to which the claimant is entitled; or

(c)there has been a change to the relevant amount which may affect the amount of housing benefit to which a claimant is entitled.".

(3) After regulation 73C (manner of calculating the amount of welfare benefits) insert-

"Determination of the relevant amount

73CA.-(1) The relevant amount is determined by dividing the applicable annual limit by 52 and rounding that amount by disregarding any amount of less than half a penny and treating any amount of half a penny or more as a whole penny.

(2) The applicable annual limit is-

(a)£13,400 in the case of single claimants;

(b)£20,000 in the case of all other claimants.".

(4) In regulation 73F (exception to the benefit cap: receipt of specified benefit) for paragraph (1)(h) substitute-

"(h)the claimant, the claimant's partner, or a young person for whom the claimant or the claimant's partner is responsible, is entitled to a carer's allowance under section 70 of the Act;

(ha)the claimant, the claimant's partner or a young person for whom the claimant or the claimant's partner is responsible, is entitled to a guardian's allowance under section 77 of the Act.".

(5) In regulation 73G (interpretation)-

(a)in the definition of "relevant amount", for the words from "is" to the end substitute "means the amount determined in accordance with regulation 73CA"; and

(b)omit the definition of "welfare benefit".

Amendments to the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

3.-(1) The Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(7) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (6).

(2) In regulation 79 (circumstances where the benefit cap applies)-

(a)in paragraph (1) after "relevant amount" insert "determined under regulation 80A (relevant amount)"; and

(b)omit paragraphs (3) and (4).

(3) After regulation 80(2) (manner of determining total entitlement to welfare benefits) insert-

"(2A) Where the welfare benefit is housing benefit under section 129 of the Contributions and Benefits Act, the amount to be used is nil.".

(4) After regulation 80 insert-

"Relevant amount

80A.-(1) The relevant amount is determined by dividing the applicable annual limit by 12.

(2) The applicable annual limit is-

(a)£13,400 for a single claimant who is not responsible for a child or qualifying young person;

(b)£20,000 for-

(i)joint claimants;

(ii)a single claimant who is responsible for a child or qualifying young person.".

(5) In regulation 81(3) (reduction of universal credit) for "applicable under regulation 79(3) (circumstances where the benefit cap applies)" substitute "determined under regulation 80A (relevant amount)".

(6) In regulation 83(1)(j) (exceptions – entitlement or receipt of certain benefits) after "a claimant" insert ", or a qualifying young person for whom a claimant is responsible,".

Amendment to the Housing Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

4.  In regulation 8 of the Housing Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001(8), in paragraph (14A)(b) for "regulation 73G of the Housing Benefit Regulations (interpretation)" substitute "Article 101(7) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (benefit cap)".

Amendments to the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

5.  In regulation 7 of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(9) (treatment of ongoing entitlement to certain benefits: benefit cap)-

(a)in paragraph (1)(a) for "regulation 79(4) of the Universal Credit Regulations (circumstances where the benefit cap applies)" substitute "Article 101(7) of the Order (benefit cap)"; and

(b)in paragraph (2) for "paragraph (4) of that regulation" substitute "Article 101(7) of the Order".

Amendment to the Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

6.-(1) The Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001(10)are amended in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) In regulation 2(1) after sub-paragraph (c) insert(c) -

"; or

(d)the amount of housing benefit has been reduced in accordance with regulation 73D of the Housing Benefit Regulations.".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

These Regulations amend the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R.2006 No.405) ("the Housing Benefit Regulations"), the Housing Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (S.R. 2001 No. 213), the Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (S.R. 2001 No. 216), the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016 No. 216) ("the Universal Credit Regulations") and the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R.2016 No. 226). These Regulations make amendments in connection with the Welfare Reform and Work (Northern Ireland) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/999 (N.I. 1)) ("the 2016 Order") and introduce a new exemption from the benefit cap.

Regulation 1 provides that regulations 1, 2, 4 and 6 come into operation on 7^th November 2016. It also provides for regulation 3 (which makes amendments to the Universal Credit Regulations) to come into force on the day on which Article 6 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I. 1)) (universal credit) comes into operation for all purposes in respect of the whole or any part of Northern Ireland.

Regulation 2 amends the Housing Benefit Regulations by:

• substituting regulation 73B (determination of whether a benefit cap applies), which makes provision about when a relevant authority determines whether a benefit cap applies;

• inserting a new regulation 73CA (relevant amount) which sets out how the relevant amount is determined. The relevant amount is the weekly level of benefit cap that will be applied in housing benefit. The annual limit is set out in Article 101 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I. 1)) as amended by the 2016 Order. Regulation 73CA sets out that the relevant amount is then calculated by dividing the applicable annual limit by 52 and rounding to the nearest penny;

• introducing a new exemption into regulation 73F (exception to the benefit cap: receipt of specified benefit) so that the benefit cap does not apply where the claimant, the claimant's partner or a young person for whom the claimant is responsible is entitled to guardian's allowance;

• making consequential amendments to regulation 73G (interpretation).

Regulation 3 makes similar amendments to the Universal Credit Regulations by:

• amending regulation 80 (manner of determining total entitlement to welfare benefits) so that, when determining entitlement to welfare benefits, no amount of housing benefit is to be included;

• inserting a new regulation 80A (relevant amount), which sets out how the relevant amount is determined. The relevant amount is the monthly level of the benefit cap that will be applied for universal credit. Regulation 80A sets out that the relevant amount is calculated by determining which annual limit applies to a claimant and dividing the annual limit that applies by 12;

• making consequential amendments to regulations 79 (circumstances where the benefit cap applies) and 81(3) (reduction of universal credit);

• making a small amendment to the exceptions set out in regulation 83(1) (exceptions: entitlement or receipt of certain benefits) so that the benefit cap does not apply where a claimant or a qualifying young person for whom they are responsible is entitled to carer's allowance.

Regulation 4 makes a consequential amendment to regulation 8 of the Housing Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (date from which a decision superseding an earlier decision takes effect).

Regulation 5 makes a consequential amendment to regulation 7 of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (treatment of ongoing entitlement to certain benefits: benefit cap).

Regulation 6 amends the Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 to extend the use of discretionary housing payments to those tenants who may be affected by the introduction of the benefit cap.

An assessment of the impact of this instrument has been carried out. Copies of the impact assessment may be obtained from the Better Regulation Unit of the Department for Work and Pensions, 2D Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1 9NA. It is also available alongside this instrument and the Explanatory Memorandum on www.legislation.gov.uk.