Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance (Administration) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/492: “the Administration Regulations”) and the Child Benefit (General) Regulations 2003 (S.I.2003/493: “the General Regulations”).

Regulation 1 provides for the citation and commencement of the Regulations.

Regulation 2 amends the Administration Regulations to provide that a claim for child benefit or guardian’s allowance made on or after 6th April 2004, by a person who has claimed asylum and who is notified that he has been recorded as a refugee by the Secretary of State, and claims that benefit or allowance within 3 months of that notification, shall be treated as having been made on the date on which the claimant first claimed asylum.

Regulations 3 to 5 amend the General Regulations.

Regulation 3 introduces the amendments.

Regulation 4 amends the definition of “advanced education” in relation to Scotland.

Regulation 5 makes minor corrections to regulation 9 of the General Regulations, restoring the position in respect of entitlement to child benefit in the case of persons under the age of 19 who are receiving advanced education or training under a relevant training programme, to what it had been before 7th April 2003.

These Regulations do not impose new costs on business.