The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2014

• Citation: S.I. 2014/591
• Sections: 10

Section 1 Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2014 and come into force on 28th April 2014.

Section 2 Amendment of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987

(1) The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation)—

(a) in paragraph (1) omit the definition of “service user group”;

(b) after paragraph (1A) insert—

(1B) References in these Regulations to a claimant participating as a service user are to—

(a) a person who is being consulted by or on behalf of—

(i) a body which has a statutory duty to provide services in the field of health, social care or social housing; or

(ii) a body which conducts research or undertakes monitoring for the purpose of planning or improving such services,

in their capacity as a user, potential user, carer of a user or person otherwise affected by the provision of those services; or

(b) the carer of a person consulted under sub-paragraph (a).

(3) In regulation 35(2)(f) (earnings of an employed earner), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

(4) In regulation 42(8ZA) (notional income), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

(5) In paragraph 14(2) (disabled child premium) of Schedule 2 (applicable amounts), for “or (b)” substitute “, (b), (d) or (e)”.

(6) In paragraph 12(2B) (the standard rate) of Schedule 3 (housing costs), for “0.5%” substitute “0.5 percentage points”.

(7) In paragraph 2A of Schedule 9 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

Section 3 Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987

(1) The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 4(11) (making a claim for benefit)—

(a) for “bereavement benefit or” substitute “bereavement benefit,”; and

(b) after “expenses” insert “or winter fuel payment”.

Section 4 Amendment of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

(1) The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 1 (citation, commencement, interpretation and application)—

(a) in paragraph (3) omit the definition of “service user group”;

(b) after regulation (3F) insert—

(3G) References in these Regulations to a claimant participating as a service user are to—

(a) a person who is being consulted by or on behalf of—

(i) a body which has a statutory duty to provide services in the field of health, social care or social housing; or

(ii) a body which conducts research or undertakes monitoring for the purpose of planning or improving such services,

in their capacity as a user, potential user, carer of a user or person otherwise affected by the provision of those services; or

(b) the carer of a person consulted under sub-paragraph (a).

(3) In regulation 98(2)(h) (earnings of an employed earner), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

(4) In regulation 105(15A) (notional income), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

(5) In paragraph 11(2B) (the standard rate) of Schedule 2 (housing costs), for “0.5%” substitute “0.5 percentage points”.

(6) In paragraph 2A of Schedule 7 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

Section 5 Amendment of the Social Security (Penalty Notice) Regulations 1997

(1) Regulation 2 (notice) of the Social Security (Penalty Notice) Regulations 1997 is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)—

(a) after “1992” insert “(“the 1992 Act”) in a case to which section 115A(1) of that Act applies”;

(b) in paragraph (a)—

(i) omit “only”;

(ii) after “71,”, insert “71ZB,”;

(c) in paragraph (b), omit “only”;

(d) in paragraph (c), for “30 per cent of the amount of the overpayment,” substitute “50 per cent of the amount of the overpayment (subject to the maximum and minimum amounts prescribed in section 115A(3) of the 1992 Act)”;

(e) in paragraph (d), for “28” substitute “14”.

(3) After paragraph (1) insert—

(1A) Where the Secretary of State or authority gives to a person written notice under section 115A(2) of the 1992 Act in a case to which section 115(1A) of that Act applies, the notice shall contain the information that—

(a) the penalty applies where it appears to the Secretary of State or authority that there are grounds for instituting proceedings against the person for an offence relating to an act or omission on the part of the person in relation to any benefit;

(b) if an overpayment attributable to the act or omission had been made, the overpayment would have been recoverable under section 71, 71ZB, 71A, 75 or 76 of the 1992 Act;

(c) the penalty is £350;

(d) a person who agrees to pay the penalty may withdraw the agreement within 14 days (including the date of the agreement) by notifying the Secretary of State or authority in the manner specified by the Secretary of State or authority; if the person withdraws the agreement, so much of the penalty as has already been recovered shall be repaid and he 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 any overpayment attributable to the act or omission would not have been recoverable or due, so much of the penalty as has already been recovered shall be repaid;

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

(4) In paragraph (2), after “The notice” insert “in either case”.

(5) The amendments made by paragraphs (2) to (4) apply only where the offence in respect of which the notice is given is committed wholly on or after 8th May 2012.

Section 6 Amendment of the Additional Pension and Social Security Pensions (Home Responsibilities) (Amendment) Regulations 2001

(1) The Additional Pension and Social Security Pensions (Home Responsibilities) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 5A(3) (earnings factor credits eligibility for pensioners to whom employment and support allowance was payable), after “this regulation” insert “and regulation 5C”.

(3) After regulation 5B (earnings factor credits eligibility for certain persons entitled to universal credit) insert—

Earnings factor credit eligibility for pensioners to whom section 1A of the 2007 Act applied

(5C)

(1) For the purposes of section 44C(3) (earnings factor credits) of the Contributions and Benefits Act, a pensioner is eligible for earnings factor enhancement in respect of a week to which paragraph (2) applies.

(2) This paragraph applies to a week in which, in relation to the pensioner concerned, each of the days would have been—

(a) a day of limited capability for work; or

(b) a day on which that pensioner would have been treated as having limited capability for work,

for the purposes of Part 1 of the 2007 Act (limited capability for work) where that pensioner would have been entitled to an employment and support allowance but for the application of section 1A of the 2007 Act.

Section 7 Amendment of the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002

(1) The State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 1 (citation, commencement and interpretation)—

(a) in paragraph (2) omit the definition of “service user group”;

(b) after paragraph (3) insert—

(3A) References in these Regulations to a claimant participating as a service user are to—

(a) a person who is being consulted by or on behalf of—

(i) a body which has a statutory duty to provide services in the field of health, social care or social housing; or

(ii) a body which conducts research or undertakes monitoring for the purpose of planning or improving such services,

in their capacity as a user, potential user, carer of a user or person otherwise affected by the provision of those services; or

(b) the carer of a person consulted under sub-paragraph (a).

(3) In regulation 17A(3)(f) (earnings of an employed earner), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

(4) In regulation 18(7A) (notional income), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

(5) In regulation 24(3) (income paid to third parties), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

(6) In paragraph 9(2B) (the standard rate) of Schedule 2 (housing costs), for “0.5%” substitute “0.5 percentage points”.

Section 8 Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006

(1) The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation)—

(a) in paragraph (1) omit the definition of “service user group”;

(b) after paragraph (4) insert—

(5) References in these Regulations to a claimant participating as a service user are to—

(a) a person who is being consulted by or on behalf of—

(i) a body which has a statutory duty to provide services in the field of health, social care or social housing; or

(ii) a body which conducts research or undertakes monitoring for the purpose of planning or improving such services,

in their capacity as a user, potential user, carer of a user or person otherwise affected by the provision of those services; or

(b) the carer of a person consulted under sub-paragraph (a).

(3) In regulation 35(2)(d) (earnings of an employed earner), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

(4) In regulation 42(12A) (notional income), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

(5) In paragraph 2A of Schedule 5 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

Section 9 Amendment of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006

(1) The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation)—

(a) in paragraph (1) omit the definition of “service user group”;

(b) after paragraph (5) insert—

(6) References in these Regulations to a claimant participating as a service user are to—

(a) a person who is being consulted by or on behalf of—

(i) a body which has a statutory duty to provide services in the field of health, social care or social housing; or

(ii) a body which conducts research or undertakes monitoring for the purpose of planning or improving such services,

in their capacity as a user, potential user, carer of a user or person otherwise affected by the provision of those services; or

(b) the carer of a person consulted under sub-paragraph (a).

(3) In regulation 35(2)(f) (earnings of employed earners), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

(4) In regulation 41(8C) (notional income), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

(5) In regulation 42(3) (income paid to third parties), for “claimant’s participation in a service user group” substitute “claimant participating as a service user”.

Section 10 Amendment of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008

(1) The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 95(1)(h) (earnings of employed earners)—

(a) for “sections” substitute “section”;

(b) for “and” substitute “or”.

(3) In paragraph 13(2B) (the standard rate) of Schedule 6 (housing costs), for “0.5%” substitute “0.5 percentage points”.