Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 (“the Regulations”) so that the new arrangements introduced by the Housing Benefit (General) (Local Housing Allowance) Amendment Regulations 2003 for determining eligible housing costs for the purposes of claims for housing benefit made by persons living in the areas of certain local authorities (“pathfinder authorities”) will apply to such claims made by persons living in the areas of 9 additional local authorities.

Regulation 2 amends Schedule 8 to the Regulations so that it specifies the additional local authorities which are to become pathfinder authorities and the date on which each such authority will become a pathfinder authority.

Regulation 3 provides that the Regulations, the Housing Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 1995 and the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2001 shall apply to the 9 additional local authorities as they apply to the existing pathfinder authorities from the date specified in the Schedule for each of those additional authorities.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business.