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The Universal Credit and Miscellaneous Amendments (No.2) Regulations 2014

2014 No. 2888

Social Security

The Universal Credit and Miscellaneous Amendments (No.2) Regulations 2014

Made29th October 2014
Laid before Parliament4th November 2014
Coming into force26th November 2014

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 135(1), (5) and (6), 136(3) and (4), 136A(3), 137(1) and 175(1), (3) and (4) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 19921, sections 5(1)(i), (p) and (r) and (1A) of the Social Security Administration Act 19922, sections 4(5), 35(1), 36(1), (2) and (4)(a) of the Jobseekers Act 19953, sections 2(3)(b), 15(3) and (6)(b) and 17(1) of the State Pension Credit Act 20024, sections 4(2)(a), 24(1) and 25(2), (3) and (5) of, and paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Welfare Reform Act 20075 and sections 8(3), 10(2) and (3), 11(4), 19(2)(d), 22(2), 32, 40 and 42 of, and paragraph 4(1), (3) and (4) of Schedule 1 to the Welfare Reform Act 2012(6, makes the following Regulations.

The Social Security Advisory Committee has agreed that proposals in respect of these Regulations need not be referred to it7.

In respect of provisions in these Regulations relating to housing benefit, in accordance with section 176(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 19928, the Secretary of State has consulted with organisations appearing to him to be representative of the authorities concerned.

1 Citation and commencement

1 These Regulations may be cited as the Universal Credit and Miscellaneous Amendments (No.2) Regulations 2014 and come into force on 26th November 2014.
2 Where any amendment made by these Regulations applies in respect of an existing award of universal credit, that amendment has effect for the purposes of that award—
a on 26th November 2014, if there is an assessment period for that award that begins on that day; or
b if sub-paragraph (a) does not apply, on the first day of the next assessment period for the award to begin after that day.

2 Extent

1 These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland only, except as provided by paragraph (2).
2 Regulation 9(2) extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.

3 Meaning of “blind”

1 The Universal Credit Regulations 20139 are amended as follows—
a in regulation 2 (interpretation)10
i omit the definition of “registered as blind”;
ii after the definition of “bereavement allowance” insert—
;
b in regulation 24 (the child element) in paragraph (2)(b)(ii) omit the words “registered as”;
c in Schedule 4 (housing costs element for renters) in paragraph 15(2)(a) (exempt renters) omit the words “registered as”.
2 The Income Support (General) Regulations 198711 are amended as follows—
a in Schedule 2 (applicable amounts)—
i in paragraph 12 (additional condition for the higher pensioner and disability premiums)—
aa for sub-paragraph (1)(a)(iii) substitute—
;
bb for sub-paragraph (2) substitute—
;
ii in paragraph 13 (severe disability premium)12
aa in sub-paragraph (2A) for “blind or is treated as blind” substitute “severely sight impaired or blind or treated as severely sight impaired or blind”;
bb in sub-paragraph (3)(d) for “blind or is treated as blind” substitute “severely sight impaired or blind or treated as severely sight impaired or blind”;
iii in paragraph 14(1)(b) (disabled child premium) 13, for “blind or treated as blind” substitute “severely sight impaired or blind or treated as severely sight impaired or blind”; and
b in paragraph 18(6)(a) (non-dependant deductions) of Schedule 3 (housing costs), for “blind or treated as blind” substitute “severely sight impaired or blind or treated as severely sight impaired or blind”.
3 The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 199614 are amended as follows—
a in Schedule 1 (applicable amounts)—
i in paragraph 14 (additional conditions for higher pensioner and disability premium)—
aa for sub-paragraph (1)(h) substitute—
;
bb for sub-paragraph (2) substitute—
;
ii in paragraph 15 (severe disability premium)—
aa in sub paragraph (3) for “blind or treated as blind” substitute “severely sight impaired or blind or treated as severely sight impaired or blind”;
bb in sub-paragraph (4)(c) for “blind or treated as blind” substitute “severely sight impaired or blind or treated as severely sight impaired or blind”;
iii in paragraph 16(1)(b) (disabled child premium)15 for “blind or treated as blind” substitute “severely sight impaired or blind or treated as severely sight impaired or blind”;
iv in paragraph 20H (additional conditions for higher pensioner and disability premium)16
aa for sub-paragraph (1)(i) substitute—
;
bb for sub-paragraph (3) substitute—
;
v in paragraph 20I (severe disability premium)17
aa in sub-paragraph (2) for “blind or treated as blind” substitute “severely sight impaired or blind or treated as severely sight impaired or blind”;
bb in sub-paragraph (3)(c) for “blind or treated as blind” substitute “severely sight impaired or blind or treated as severely sight impaired or blind”; and
b in paragraph 17(6)(a) (non-dependant deductions) of Schedule 2 (housing costs) for “blind or treated as blind” substitute “severely sight impaired or blind or treated as severely sight impaired or blind”.
4 The State Pension Credit Regulations 200218 are amended as follows—
a in Schedule 1—
i in paragraph 1 (severe disablement)—
aa for sub-paragraph (1)(c)(ii) substitute—
;
bb for sub-paragraph (3) substitute—
;
ii in paragraph 2(2) (persons residing with the claimant whose presence is ignored)—
aa for sub-paragraph (b) substitute—
;
bb for sub-paragraph (c) substitute—
;
b in Schedule 2 (housing costs)—
i for paragraph 1(2)(a)(iii)(cc) (housing costs) substitute:
;
ii for paragraph 14(6)(a) (persons residing with the claimant) substitute—
; and
c for paragraph 4(1)(b) of Schedule 6 (sums disregarded from claimant’s earnings) substitute—
.
5 The Housing Benefit Regulations 200619 are amended as follows—
a in regulation 28(13) (treatment of child care charges)20
i for sub-paragraph (b) substitute—
;
ii in sub-paragraph (c) for “registered as blind in such a register” substitute “certified as severely sight impaired or blind”;
b in regulation 74(6)(a) (non-dependant deductions)21 for “blind or treated as blind” substitute “severely sight impaired or blind or treated as severely sight impaired or blind”;
c in Schedule 3 (applicable amounts)—
i in paragraph 13 (additional condition for the disability premium)—
aa for sub-paragraph (1)(a)(v) substitute—
;
bb for sub-paragraph (2) substitute—
;
ii in paragraph 14 (severe disability premium)—
aa in sub-paragraph (3) for “blind or treated as blind” substitute “severely sight impaired or blind or treated as severely sight impaired or blind”;
bb in sub-paragraph (4)(b) for “blind or treated as blind” substitute “severely sight impaired or blind or treated as severely sight impaired or blind”; and
iii in paragraph 16(b) (disabled child premium) for “blind or treated as blind” substitute “severely sight impaired or blind or treated as severely sight impaired or blind”.
6 The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 200622 are amended as follows—
a in regulation 31(13) (treatment of child care charges)23
i for sub-paragraph (b) substitute—
;
ii in sub-paragraph (c), for “registered as blind in such a register” substitute “certified as severely sight impaired or blind”;
b in paragraph 6 (severe disability premium) of Schedule 3 (applicable amounts)—
i for sub-paragraph (4) substitute—
;
ii for sub-paragraph (5) substitute—
;
c for paragraph 5(1)(b) of Schedule 4 (sums disregarded from claimant’s earnings) substitute—
.
7 The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 200824 are amended as follows—
a for the definition of “blind or severely sight impaired” in paragraph 6(9) (severe disability premium) of Schedule 4 (amounts) substitute—
; and
b for paragraph 19(6)(a) (non-dependant deductions) of Schedule 6 (housing costs) substitute—
.

4 Universal Credit - calculation of earned income

1 The Universal Credit Regulations 2013 are amended as follows.
2 In regulation 55 (employed earnings) after paragraph (4) insert—
.
3 In regulation 57 (self-employed earnings) after paragraph (4) insert—
.
4 For regulation 61 (information for calculating earned income) substitute—
.
5 For regulation 62 (minimum income floor) substitute—
.
6 In regulation 77(3)(c) omit the words from “in relation to” to the end.
7 In regulation 90 (claimants subject to no work-related requirements) for paragraph (5) substitute—

5 Payments on account and accounts into which payments may be made

1 The Social Security (Payments on Account of Benefit) Regulations 201328 are amended as follows—
a in regulation 5(1)(b) (payment on account of benefit where there is no award of benefit), after “satisfied” insert “(or will be satisfied during the period in respect of which the payment is to be made)”
b for regulation 9 (payments on account of benefit by direct credit transfer) substitute—
;
c for regulation 18 (payment of budgeting advances by direct credit transfer) substitute—
.
2 For regulation 21(1) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 198729 (direct credit transfer) substitute—
.
3 For regulation 46(1) of the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013 30 (direct credit transfer) substitute—
.

6 Universal Credit - deductions from benefit and direct payments

1 The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013 are amended as follows.
2 In Schedule 6 (deductions from benefit and direct payment to third parties)—
a in paragraph 4(4) (maximum amount)—
i omit “paragraph 7 (rent and service charges included in rent) or”, and
ii after “(fuel costs)”, insert “, or the minimum amount which may be deducted under paragraph 7 (rent and service charges included in rent)”;
b in paragraph 5(2) (priority as between certain debts)—
i in paragraph (b) after “Schedule”, insert “where the amount of the deduction equals 10% of the standard allowance”;
ii after paragraph (p) insert—
;
c in paragraph 7(5) (rent and service charges included in rent) for the words “equal to 5%”, substitute “which is no less than 10% and no more than 20%”.

7 Up-rating of Universal Credit

1 The Social Security Administration Act 199231 is amended as follows—
a in section 150 (annual uprating of benefits)—
i at the beginning of subsection (10) insert the words “Subject to subsection (10ZA),”;
ii after subsection 10 insert—
;
b in section 150A (annual up-rating of basic pension etc. and standard minimum guarantee)—
i at the beginning of subsection (7) insert the words “Subject to subsection (7A),”;
ii after subsection (7) insert —
;
c In section 191 (interpretation), at the appropriate place insert—
.
2 The Welfare Benefits Up-rating Act 201332 is amended as follows—
a in section 1 (up-rating of certain social security benefits for tax years 2014-15 and 2015-16)—
i at the beginning of subsection (2) insert the words “Subject to subsection (2A),”;
ii after subsection (2) insert—
.

8 Suspension of work-related requirement where child affected by death or violence

1 The Universal Credit Regulations 2013 are amended as follows.
2 After regulation 98(1)33 (victims of domestic violence) insert—
.
3 In regulation 9934 (circumstances in which requirements must not be imposed)—
a in paragraph (1) in both places where it appears and in paragraph (2), after “(4)”, insert “, (4A),”;
b after paragraph (4) insert—

9 Rent Repayment Orders and the supply of Universal Credit information

1 The Social Security Administration Act 1992 is amended as follows—
a after section 133 (furnishing of addresses for maintenance proceedings, etc.) insert the heading “Universal Credit information”; and
b after that heading insert—
2 The Rent Repayment Orders (Supplementary Provisions) (England) Regulations 200737 are amended as follows—
a In regulation 1(3) (citation, commencement, application and interpretation), for the definition of “relevant award of universal credit” substitute—
;
b In regulation 2 (overpayments of housing benefit)—
i for the heading substitute “Overpayments of housing benefit or universal credit”; and
ii in paragraph (2)(b), for “section 74(2A)(a)” substitute “section 74(2A)(a) or 97(2A)(a)”.

Footnotes

  1. 1
    1992 c.4. Section 136A was added by paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the State Pension Credit Act 2002 (c.16). Section 137(1) is an interpretation provision and is cited for the meaning of “prescribed”. Section 175(1) is amended by paragraph 29 of Schedule 3 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions etc.) Act 1999 (c.2) Section 175(1), (3) and (4) is applied to provisions of the State Pension Credit Act 2002 by section 19(1) of that Act.
  2. 2
    1992 c.5 (“the 1992 Act”). Section 5(1)(r) was substituted by section 101(1) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and section 5(1A) was inserted by section 99(3) of that Act.
  3. 3
    1995 c.18. Section 35(1) is an interpretation provision and is cited for the meaning of “prescribed” and “ regulations”.
  4. 4
    2002 c.16. Section 17(1) is an interpretation provision and is cited for the meaning of “prescribed” and “regulations”.
  5. 5
    2007 c.5. Section 24(1) is an interpretation provision and is cited for the meaning of “prescribed” and “regulations”.
  6. 6
    2012 c.5.
  7. 7
    See sections 172(1) and 173(1)(b) of the 1992 Act.
  8. 8
    c.5. Section 176(1) is amended by Schedule 9, paragraph 23 to the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c.14), Schedule 13, paragraph 3(4) to the Housing Act 1996 (c.52) and section 69(6) of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c.19).
  9. 9
    S.I. 2013/376.
  10. 10
    There are amendments which are not relevant to this instrument.
  11. 11
    S.I. 1987/1967.
  12. 12
    Relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1993/115.
  13. 13
    Paragraph 14 was revoked by S.I. 2003/455 but remains in force in relation to certain claimants by virtue of S.I.2003/455. It was substituted by S.I. 2007/719.
  14. 14
    S.I. 1996/207; relevant amending instruments are 2000/1978 and 2011/674.
  15. 15
    Paragraph 16 was revoked by S.I. 2003/455 but remains in force in relation to certain claimants by virtue of S.I. 2003/455. It was substituted by S.I. 2007/719, relevant amending instrument is S.I. 2011/674.
  16. 16
    Paragraph 20H was inserted by S.I. 2000/1978.
  17. 17
    Paragraph 20I was inserted by S.I. 2000/1978.
  18. 18
    S.I. 2002/1792.
  19. 19
    S.I. 2006/213.
  20. 20
    Relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2013/388 and S.I. 2013/591.
  21. 21
    Relevant amending instrument is 2010/641.
  22. 22
    S.I. 2006/214.
  23. 23
    Relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2013/388 and S.I. 2013/591.
  24. 24
    S.I. 2008/794.
  25. 25
    See also regulation 41(1) of the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Decision and Appeals) Regulations 2013 (S.I 2013/381 )., which provides for an alteration in the amount of employed earnings based on information from HMRC to be prescribed for the purposes of section 159D(1)(b)(vi) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. The effect of this is that the award may be adjusted without a decision of the Secretary of State (subject to the person having the right to request a decision by the Secretary of State where they dispute the information provided by HMRC).
  26. 26
    S.I.2013/381.
  27. 27
    Regulation 2A was inserted by S.I.2012/822.
  28. 28
    S.I.2013/383.
  29. 29
    S.I.1987/1968. Amended by S.I.2012/757.
  30. 30
    S.I.2013/380.
  31. 31
    1992 c. 5.
  32. 32
    2013 c. 16.
  33. 33
    In regulation 98(4) the definitions of “coercive behaviour”, “controlling behaviour” and “domestic violence” substituted for definition of “domestic violence” by regulation 3(9) of S.I. 2013/1508. The definition of “registered social worker” was amended by regulation 2(6) of S.I. 2014/597.
  34. 34
    Regulation 99 has been amended by S.I. 2014/597.
  35. 35
    2014 anaw. 7.
  36. 36
    2004 c. 34
  37. 37
    S.I. 2007/572. Regulations 1 and 2 were amended by S.I. 2013/630.