Regulation 39 Notional incomeI1
Northern Ireland
A claimant shall be treated as possessing income of which he has deprived himself for the purpose of securing entitlement to housing benefit or increasing the amount of that benefit.
Except in the case of—
a discretionary trust;
a trust derived from a payment made in consequence of a personal injury;
any sum to which paragraph 45(2)(a) of Schedule 7 F3applies which is administered in a way referred to in paragraph 45(1)(a);
child tax credit; or
working tax credit,
any sum to which paragraph (12A) applies;
any income which would become available to the claimant upon application being made, but which has not been acquired by him, shall be treated as possessed by the claimant but only from the date on which it could be expected to be acquired were an application made.
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Any payment of income, other than a payment of income specified in F6paragraph (7) or (7A), made—
to a third party in respect of a single claimant or a member of the family (but not a member of the third party’s family) shall, where that payment is a payment of an occupational pension, a pension or other periodical payment made under a personal pension scheme or a payment made by the Board of the Pension Protection Fund, be treated as possessed by that single claimant or, as the case may be, by that member;
to a third party in respect of a single claimant or in respect of a member of the family (but not a member of the third party’s family) shall, where it is not a payment referred to in sub-paragraph (a), be treated as possessed by that single claimant or by that member to the extent that it is used for the food, household fuel or, subject to paragraph (14), rent or rates or both or ordinary clothing or footwear, of that single claimant or, as the case may be, of any member of that family F7or is used for any water charges for which that claimant or member is liable;
to a single claimant or a member of the family in respect of a third party (but not in respect of another member of that family) shall be treated as possessed by that single claimant or, as the case may be, that member of the family to the extent that it is kept or used by him or used by or on behalf of any member of the family.
Paragraph (6) shall not apply in respect of a payment of income made—
under F8or by the Macfarlane Trust, the Macfarlane (Special Payments) Trust, the Macfarlane (Special Payments) (No. 2) Trust, the Fund, the Eileen Trust F9, MFET Limited F10, the Skipton Fund, the Caxton Foundation F11, the Infected Blood Payment Scheme for Northern Ireland, the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme, an approved blood scheme F12, the London Emergencies Trust, the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund F13, the National Emergencies Trust or the Independent Living F14Fund (2006);
pursuant to section 19(1)(a) of the Coal Industry Act 1994f1 (concessionary coal);
pursuant to section 1 of the 1950 Act in respect of a person’s participation—
in an employment programme specified in regulation 75(1)(a) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulationsf2;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
in a training scheme specified in regulation 75(1)(b)(ii) of those Regulations, or
in a qualifying course within the meaning specified in regulation 17A(7)f3 of those Regulations;
in respect of a claimant's participation in a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014;
under an occupational pension scheme, in respect of a pension or other periodical payment made under a personal pension scheme or a payment made by the Board of the Pension Protection Fund where—
a bankruptcy order has been made in respect of the person in respect of whom the payment has been made or, in Scotland, the estate of that person is subject to sequestration or a judicial factor has been appointed on that person’s estate under section 41 of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980f4;
the payment is made to the trustee in bankruptcy or any other person acting on behalf of the creditors, and
the person referred to in (i) and any member of his family does not possess, or is not treated as possessing, any other income apart from that payment.
Paragraph (6) shall not apply in respect of F18any of the following payments of income—
a Grenfell Tower payment;
a child abuse payment;
a Windrush payment;
a Post Office compensation payment;
an LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme payment F20;
a Mother and Baby Scheme payment;
a miscarriage of justice compensation payment.
Where a claimant is in receipt of any benefit (other than housing benefit) under the benefit Acts and the rate of that benefit is altered with effect from a date on or after 1st April in any year but not more than 14 days thereafter, the relevant authority shall treat the claimant as possessing such benefit at the altered rate—
in a case in which the claimant’s weekly amount of eligible rent or, as the case may be, rates falls to be calculated in accordance with regulation 78(2)(b) or (c) or, as the case may be, (3)(b) or (c), from 1st April in that year;
in any other case, from the first Monday in April in that year,
to the date on which the altered rate is to take effect.
Subject to paragraph (10), where—
a claimant performs a service for another person; and
that person makes no payment of earnings or pays less than that paid for a comparable employment in the area,
the relevant authority shall treat the claimant as possessing such earnings (if any) as is reasonable for that employment unless the claimant satisfies the authority that the means of that person are insufficient for him to pay or to pay more for the service.
Paragraph (9) shall not apply—
to a claimant who is engaged by a charitable or voluntary organisation or who is a volunteer if the relevant authority is satisfied in any of those cases that it is reasonable for him to provide those services free of charge; F22...
in a case where the service is performed in connection with—
the claimant’s participation in an employment or training programme in accordance with regulation 19(1)(p) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations, other than where the service is performed in connection with the claimant’s participation in the Preparation for Employment Programme specified in regulation 75(1)(a)(v) of those Regulations F23..., or
the claimant’s or the claimant’s partner’s participation in an employment or training programme as defined in regulation 19(3) of those Regulations for which a training allowance is not payable or, where such an allowance is payable, it is payable for the sole purpose of reimbursement of travelling or meal expenses to the person participating in that programme F24; or
to a claimant who is participating in a work placement approved by the Department for Employment and Learning (or a person providing services to that Department) before the placement starts.
In paragraph (10)(c) “work placement” means practical work experience which is not undertaken in expectation of payment.
Where a claimant is treated as possessing any income under any of paragraphs (1) to (8), the foregoing provisions of this Part shall apply for the purposes of calculating the amount of that income as if a payment had actually been made and as if it were actual income which he does possess.
Where a claimant is treated as possessing any earnings under paragraph (9) the foregoing provisions of this Part shall apply for the purposes of calculating the amount of those earnings as if a payment had actually been made and as if they were actual earnings which he does possess except that regulation 33(3) shall not apply and his net earnings shall be calculated by taking into account those earnings which he is treated as possessing, less—
an amount in respect of income tax equivalent to an amount calculated by applying to those earnings F25... the basic rate F26, or in the case of a Scottish taxpayer, the Scottish basic rate, of tax applicable to the assessment period less only the F27personal reliefs to which the claimant is entitled under Chapters 2, 3 and 3A of Part 3 of the Income Tax Act 2007 as are appropriate to his circumstances; but, if the assessment period is less than a year, the earnings to which the F28basic rate F29, or the Scottish basic rate, of tax is to be applied and the amount of the personal F30reliefs deductible under this sub-paragraph shall be calculated on a pro-rata basis;
an amount equivalent to the amount of the primary Class 1 contributions that would be payable by him under the Act in respect of those earnings if such contributions were payable; and
one half of any sum payable by the claimant by way of a contribution towards an occupational or personal pension scheme.
Paragraphs (1), (2), (6) and (9) shall not apply in respect of any amount of income other than earnings, or earnings of an employed earner, arising out of the F32claimant participating as a service user.
Where the claimant is an employed earner in the Republic of Ireland the amounts to be deducted for income tax and primary Class 1 contributions under this regulation shall be such amounts as, in the opinion of the appropriate authority, would have been deducted had the claimant been employed in Northern Ireland.
In paragraph (6) “rent or rates” means eligible rent or rates less any deductions in respect of non-dependants which fall to be made under regulation 72.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Words in reg. 39(2)(c) omitted (16.7.2007) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/306), regs. 1(1), 5(4)(a)
- F2
Words in reg. 39(2)(c) substituted (6.4.2010) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/69), regs. 1(1), 8(4)
- F3
Words in reg. 39(2)(d) substituted (2.4.2007) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/154), regs. 1(2), 7(2)
- F4
Reg. 39(2)(g) inserted (2.11.2009) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/338), regs. 1(3), 6(4)(a)
- F5
Reg. 39(3)-(5) omitted (19.5.2008) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008/179), regs. 1(1), 3(4)
- F6
Words in reg. 39(6) substituted (15.7.2020) by The Social Security (Income and Capital) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (S.R. 2020/108), regs. 1(1), 5(3)(a)
- F7
Words in reg. 39(6)(b) added (2.4.2007) by The Social Security and Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/196), regs. 1(1), 7(5)
- F8
Words in reg. 39(7)(a) inserted (1.4.2010 for specified purposes, 5.4.2010 in so far as not already in operation) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/69), regs. 1(3)(a), 8(5)(a)
- F9
Words in reg. 39(7)(a) inserted (1.4.2010 for specified purposes, 5.4.2010 in so far as not already in operation) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/69), regs. 1(3)(a), 8(3)(b)
- F10
Words in reg. 39(7)(a) inserted (31.10.2011) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (S.R. 2011/357), regs. 1(1), 19(5)(a)
- F11
Words in reg. 39(7)(a) inserted (30.10.2017) by The Social Security (Infected Blood and Thalidomide) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/219), regs. 1(1), 6(3)(a)
- F12
Words in reg. 39(7)(a) inserted (27.9.2017) by The Social Security (Emergency Funds) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/205), regs. 1, 6(3)(a)
- F13
Words in reg. 39(7)(a) inserted (15.7.2020) by The Social Security (Income and Capital) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (S.R. 2020/108), regs. 1(1), 5(3)(b)
- F14
Words in reg. 39(7)(a) substituted (17.11.2008) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008/428), regs. 1(1), 6(3)(a)
- F15
Reg. 39(7)(c)(ii) omitted (14.4.2008) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008/112), regs. 1(1), 6(4)
- F16
Reg. 39(7)(ca) inserted (2.6.2014) by The Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (S.R. 2014/150), regs. 1, 13(1)(c)(2)
- F17
Reg. 39(7A) inserted (15.7.2020) by The Social Security (Income and Capital) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (S.R. 2020/108), regs. 1(1), 5(3)(c)
- F18
Words in reg. 39(7A) substituted (5.1.2022) by The Social Security (Income and Capital Disregards) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (S.R. 2021/345), regs. 1(1), 5(3)
- F19
Reg. 39(7A)(c)-(e) substituted for reg. 39(7A)(c)(d) (28.2.2025) by The Social Security (Income and Capital Disregards) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (S.R. 2025/24), regs. 1(1), 6(3)
- F20
Reg. 39(7A)(f) and semicolon substituted for full stop in reg. 39(7A)(e) (22.7.2025) by The Social Security (Income and Capital Disregards) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (S.R. 2025/122), regs. 1(1), 5(3)
- F21
Reg. 39(7A)(ea) inserted (30.10.2026) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (S.R. 2026/177), regs. 1(1), 4(3)
- F22
Word in reg. 39(10)(a) omitted (1.10.2007) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/396), regs. 1(1), 9(7)(a)
- F23
Words in reg. 39(10)(b)(i) omitted (14.4.2008) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008/112), regs. 1(1), 6(5)
- F24
Reg. 39(10)(c)(10A) and word added (1.10.2007) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/396), regs. 1(1), 9(7)(b)
- F25
Words in reg. 39(12)(a) omitted (6.4.2009) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/92), regs. 1(1), 6(3)(a)
- F26
Words in reg. 39(12)(a) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Scottish Rate of Income Tax etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/147), regs. 1(1), 4(4)(a)
- F27
Words in reg. 39(12)(a) substituted (6.4.2016) by virtue of The Social Security (Scottish Rate of Income Tax etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/147), regs. 1(1), 4(4)(b)
- F28
Words in reg. 39(12)(a) substituted (6.4.2009) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/92), regs. 1(1), 6(3)(b)
- F29
Words in reg. 39(12)(a) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Scottish Rate of Income Tax etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/147), regs. 1(1), 4(4)(c)
- F30
Word in reg. 39(12)(a) substituted (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Scottish Rate of Income Tax etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/147), regs. 1(1), 4(4)(d)
- F31
Reg. 39(12A) inserted (2.11.2009) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/338), regs. 1(3), 6(4)(b)
- F32
Words in reg. 39(12A) substituted (28.4.2014) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (S.R. 2014/105), regs. 1(1), 6(4)
Commencement
Footnotes
- f1
- f2
-
Regulation 75 was substituted by regulation 8 of S.R. 1997 No. 541 and paragraph (1) was amended by regulation 8 of S.R. 1998 No. 198, regulation 2(4) of S.R. 2000 No. 197, paragraph 32(a) and (b) of Schedule 2 to S.R. 2000 No. 350, regulation 5(a) of S.R. 2001 No. 151 and regulation 2(4) of S.R. 2002 No. 275
- f3
-
Regulation 17A was inserted by regulation 4 of S.R. 1998 No. 198
- f4
Notes on Part VI
Modifications
- C1
Pt. VI applied (with modifications) (1.4.2007) by The Rate Relief (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/204), regs. 1(1), 19(1)