Regulation 2 Amendment of regulation 11 of the principal RegulationsI1

in paragraph (3A)^f2 at the beginning there shall be inserted “Subject to paragraph (3D),”;

after paragraph (3A) there shall be inserted the following paragraphs—

“(3B)

In the case of a single claimant to whom paragraph (3C) applies, where the Executive has determined a single room rent, the maximum rent shall not exceed that single room rent.

(3C)

Subject to paragraph (3D), this paragraph applies to a person who is aged not less than 25 but less than 60 and who—

(a)

makes a claim for housing benefit on or after 6th October 1997, or

(b)

having been continuously entitled to and in receipt of housing benefit in respect of the same dwelling for a benefit period beginning before 6th October 1997, makes a further claim for that benefit either—

(i)

in accordance with regulation 72(11), (12) or (13)^f3 (time and manner in which claims are to be made), or

(ii)

upon a change of dwelling.

(3D)

Paragraphs (3A) and (3C) shall not apply in the case of a claimant—

(a)

who is a tenant of a registered housing association or a person to whom regulation 16 of the Housing Benefit (General) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996^f4 (savings provisions) applies;

(b)

to whom paragraph 13 of Schedule 2 (severe disability premium) applies, or

(c)

who has a non-dependant residing with him.”;

in paragraph (4)^f5—

in paragraph (5)^f6 for “limits specified in paragraphs (3) and (3A)” there shall be substituted “limits specified in paragraphs (3), (3A) and (3B)” and the words from “plus 50 per cent.” to the end of the paragraph shall be omitted.