The Housing Benefit and Universal Credit (Size Criteria) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017

• Citation: S.I. 2017/213
• Sections: 6

Section 1 Citation, commencement and transitional provision

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Housing Benefit and Universal Credit (Size Criteria) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017 and come into force on 1st April 2017.

(2) Where an amendment made by regulation 6 applies in respect of an existing award of universal credit, that amendment has effect for the purposes of that award—

(a) on 1st April 2017, if there is an assessment period for the 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 beginning after that day.

(3) In this regulation—

“assessment period” has the meaning given by section 7(2) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012;

“existing award of universal credit” means an award of universal credit that exists on 1st April 2017.

Section 2 Amendments to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997

(1) Schedule 2 (size criteria) to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997 is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1—

(a) before sub-paragraph (a) insert—

(za) a member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom;

(zb) a member of a couple who can share a bedroom;

(b) in sub-paragraph (a) omit “(within the meaning of Part VII of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992)”;

(c) in the full-out words at the end—

(i) after “a child who cannot share a bedroom” insert “or a member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom”;

(ii) after “the child” insert “or the member of the couple”.

(3) In paragraph 1A, for sub-paragraph (a) substitute—

(a) one or more of the following persons is stated as being a person who requires overnight care—

(i) the tenant;

(ii) the tenant’s partner;

(iii) a person (other than the tenant or the tenant’s partner) who occupies the dwelling as their home;

(iv) a child or young person in respect of whom the tenant or the tenant’s partner is a qualifying parent or carer; or

(4) In paragraph 3—

(a) after “child who cannot share a bedroom” insert “, “couple”, “member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom”;

(b) at the end insert “and reference to a member of a couple who can share a bedroom is to be construed in accordance with regulation 2(6) of those Regulations”.

Section 3 Amendments to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997

(1) Schedule 2 (size criteria) to the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Scotland) Order 1997 is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1—

(a) before sub-paragraph (a) insert—

(za) a member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom;

(zb) a member of a couple who can share a bedroom;

(b) in sub-paragraph (a) omit “(within the meaning of Part VII of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992)”;

(c) in the full-out words at the end—

(i) after “a child who cannot share a bedroom” insert “or a member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom”;

(ii) after “the child” insert “or the member of the couple”.

(3) In paragraph 1A, for sub-paragraph (a) substitute—

(a) one or more of the following persons is stated as being a person who requires overnight care—

(i) the tenant;

(ii) the tenant’s partner;

(iii) a person (other than the tenant or the tenant’s partner) who occupies the dwelling as their home;

(iv) a child or young person in respect of whom the tenant or the tenant’s partner is a qualifying parent or carer; or

(4) In paragraph 3—

(a) after “child who cannot share a bedroom” insert “, “couple”, “member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom”;

(b) at the end insert “and reference to a member of a couple who can share a bedroom is to be construed in accordance with regulation 2(6) of those Regulations”.

Section 4 Amendments to the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006

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

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation)—

(a) after the definition of “maximum rent (LHA)” insert—

“member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom” means a member of a couple—

who is in receipt of—

attendance allowance at the higher rate in accordance with section 65(3) of the Act;

the care component of disability living allowance at the highest or middle rate prescribed in accordance with section 72(3) of the Act;

the daily living component of personal independence payment in accordance with section 78 of the 2012 Act; or

armed forces independence payment; and

whom the relevant authority is satisfied is, by virtue of his or her disability, not reasonably able to share a bedroom with the other member of the couple;

(b) in the definition of “person who requires overnight care” in paragraph (a)(iii) after “provided” insert “or, where P is a child, the claimant has provided”;

(c) after paragraph (5) insert—

(6) For the purpose of these Regulations, reference to a member of a couple who can share a bedroom is to a member of a couple where the other member of the couple is a member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom.

(3) In regulation B13 (determination of a maximum rent (social sector))—

(a) in paragraph (5)—

(i) before sub-paragraph (a) insert—

(za) a member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom;

(zb) a member of a couple who can share a bedroom;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (a) omit “(within the meaning of Part 7 of the Act)”;

(b) in paragraph (6), for sub-paragraph (a) substitute—

(a) one or more relevant persons in paragraph (9)(a), (b) or (e) is a person who requires overnight care;

(ab) one or more relevant persons in paragraph (9)(c) or (d) is a person who requires overnight care; or

(c) in paragraph (7), in sub-paragraph (b), for “a sub-paragraph of paragraph (6)” substitute “paragraph (6)(b)”;

(d) in paragraph (9), after sub-paragraph (d) insert—

(e) for the purposes of paragraph (6)(a)—

(i) a person (other than the claimant, the claimant’s partner, P or P’s partner) who occupies the claimant’s dwelling as their home;

(ii) a child or young person in respect of whom a relevant person under sub-paragraphs (a) to (e)(i) is a qualifying parent or carer.

(4) In regulation 13D (determination of a maximum rent (LHA))—

(a) in paragraph (3)—

(i) before sub-paragraph (a) insert—

(za) a member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom;

(zb) a member of a couple who can share a bedroom;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (a) omit “(within the meaning of Part 7 of the Act)”;

(iii) in the full-out words at the end—

(aa) after “a child who cannot share a bedroom” insert “or a member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom”;

(bb) after “the child” insert “or the member of the couple”.

(b) in paragraph (3A), for sub-paragraph (a) substitute—

(a) one or more of the following persons is a person who requires overnight care—

(i) the claimant;

(ii) the claimant’s partner;

(iii) a person (other than the claimant or the claimant’s partner) who occupies the claimant’s dwelling as their home;

(iv) a child or young person in respect of whom the claimant or the claimant’s partner is a qualifying parent or carer; or

(5) In regulation 114A (information to be provided to rent officers), in paragraph (9)(ca), for “the claimant or the claimant’s partner” substitute “any person mentioned in regulation 13D(3A)(a)”.

(6) In Schedule 2 (excluded tenancies), in paragraph 2(3)—

(a) for paragraph (f) substitute—

(f) any person mentioned in paragraph 1A(a) of Schedule 2 to the Rent Officers Order becomes or ceases to be a person who requires overnight care where that affects the size criteria, as set out in that Schedule to that Order, applicable in the claimant’s case;

(b) in paragraph (h) after “child who cannot share a bedroom” insert “or a member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom”.

Section 5 Amendments to 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) after the definition of “maximum rent (LHA)” insert—

“member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom” means a member of a couple—

who is in receipt of—

attendance allowance at the higher rate in accordance with section 65(3) of the Act;

the care component of disability living allowance at the highest or middle rate prescribed in accordance with section 72(3) of the Act;

the daily living component of personal independence payment in accordance with section 78 of the 2012 Act; or

armed forces independence payment; and

whom the relevant authority is satisfied is, by virtue of his or her disability, not reasonably able to share a bedroom with the other member of the couple;

(b) in the definition of “person who requires overnight care” in paragraph (a)(iii) after “provided” insert “or, where P is a child, the claimant has provided”;

(c) after paragraph (6) insert—

(7) For the purpose of these Regulations, reference to a member of a couple who can share a bedroom is to a member of a couple where the other member of the couple is a member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom.

(3) In regulation 13D (determination of a maximum rent (LHA))—

(a) in paragraph (3)—

(i) before sub-paragraph (a) insert—

(za) a member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom;

(zb) a member of a couple who can share a bedroom;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (a) omit “(within the meaning of Part 7 of the Act)”;

(iii) in the full-out words at the end—

(aa) after “a child who cannot share a bedroom” insert “or a member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom”;

(bb) after “the child” insert “or the member of the couple”.

(b) in paragraph (3A), for sub-paragraph (a) substitute—

(a) one or more of the following persons is a person who requires overnight care—

(i) the claimant;

(ii) the claimant’s partner;

(iii) a person (other than the claimant or the claimant’s partner) who occupies the claimant’s dwelling as their home;

(iv) a child or young person in respect of whom the claimant or the claimant’s partner is a qualifying parent or carer; or

(4) In regulation 95A (information to be provided to rent officers), in paragraph (9)(ba), for “the claimant or the claimant’s partner” substitute “any person mentioned in regulation 13D(3A)(a)”.

(5) In Schedule 2 (excluded tenancies), in paragraph 2(3)—

(a) for paragraph (e) substitute—

(e) any person mentioned in paragraph 1A(a) of Schedule 2 to the Rent Officers Order becomes or ceases to be a person who requires overnight care where that affects the size criteria, as set out in that Schedule to that Order, applicable in the claimant’s case;

(b) in paragraph (g) after “child who cannot share a bedroom” insert “or a member of a couple who cannot share a bedroom”.

Section 6 Amendments to the Universal Credit Regulations 2013

In paragraph 12 (additional room) of Schedule 4 (housing costs element for renters) to the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 —

(a) before sub-paragraph (1) insert—

(A1) A renter is entitled to an additional bedroom if one or more of the following persons satisfies the overnight care condition (see sub-paragraph (3))—

(a) the renter;

(b) a person in the renter’s extended benefit unit;

(c) a child in respect of whom the renter satisfies the foster parent condition (see sub-paragraphs (4) and (5)).

(b) in sub-paragraph (1)—

(i) omit paragraph (a);

(ii) in paragraph (b) omit “(see sub-paragraphs (4) and (5))”;

(iii) in paragraph (c) after “sub-paragraph (6))” insert—

;

(d) the disabled person condition (see sub-paragraph (6A))

(c) for sub-paragraph (2) substitute—

(2) Sub-paragraphs (A1) and (1) apply subject to sub-paragraphs (8) and (9).

(d) in sub-paragraph (3)—

(i) for “a renter satisfies” substitute “a person satisfies”;

(ii) in paragraph (b) for “care for the renter” substitute “care for the person”;

(e) after sub-paragraph (6) insert—

(6A) A renter satisfies the disabled person condition if they would (but for the provisions of this paragraph) be expected to share a bedroom with a joint renter and—

(a) the renter is in receipt of—

(i) the care component of disability living allowance at the middle or highest rate;

(ii) attendance allowance at the higher rate;

(iii) the daily living component of personal independence payment; and

(b) the renter is, by virtue of their disability, not reasonably able to share a bedroom with the joint renter.

(f) omit sub-paragraph (7);

(g) for sub-paragraph (9) substitute—

(9) The renter is, or joint renters are, entitled to one additional bedroom for each of the following that apply—

(a) one or more persons satisfy the overnight care condition;

(b) the renter, or one or both of joint renters, satisfies the foster parent condition;

(c) the renter, or one or both of joint renters, satisfies the disabled child condition; or

(d) the renter, or one or both of joint renters, satisfies the disabled person condition.