Regulation 51 Notional capitalI1

England, Wales and Scotland

(1)

A claimant shall be treated as possessing capital of which he has deprived himself for the purpose of securing entitlement to income support or increasing the amount of that benefit F1except–

(a)

where that capital is derived from a payment made in consequence of any personal injury and is placed on trust for the benefit of the claimant; or

(b)

to the extent that the capital which he is treated as possessing is reduced in accordance with regulation 51A (diminishing notional capital rule) F2or

F3(c)

any sum to which paragraph 44(2)(a) of Schedule 10 (capital to be disregarded) applies which is administered in the way referred to in paragraph 44(1)(a);

(d)

any sum to which paragraph 45(a) of Schedule 10 refers.

C1(2)

Except in the case of—

(a)

a discretionary trust;

(b)

a trust derived from a payment made in consequence of a personal injury; or

C2(c)

any loan which would be obtainable only if secured against capital disregarded under Schedule 10, F4or

(d)

a personal pension scheme F5... F6or

F7(da)

an occupational pension scheme F8or a payment made by the Board of the Pension Protection Fund where the claimant F9has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit; or

F10(e)

any sum to which paragraph 44(2)(a) of Schedule 10 (capital to be disregarded) applies which is administered in a way referred to in paragraph 44(1)(a); or

(f)

any sum to which paragraph 45(a) of Schedule 10 refers,

any capital 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 him but only from the date on which F11it could be expected to be acquired were an application made

F12(3)

F13Any payment of capital, other than a payment of capital specified in F14paragraph (3A) or (3B), made—

(a)

to a third party in respect of a single claimant or ~~F15in respect of a member of the family~~ his partner (but not a member of the third party’s family) shall be treated—

(i)

in a case where that payment is derived from a payment of any benefit under the benefit Acts, F16a payment from the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme, a war disablement pensionF17, war widow’s pension F18or war widower’s pension or a pension payable to a person as a F19widow, widower or surviving civil partner under F20... any power of Her Majesty otherwise than under an enactment to make provision about pensions for or in respect of persons who have been disabled or who have died in consequence of service as members of the armed forces of the Crown, as possessed by that single claimant, if it is paid to him, ~~F21or by that member if it is paid to any member of the family~~ or by his partner, if it is paid to his partner;

(F22ia)

in a case where that payment is a payment of an occupational pension F23, a pension or other periodical payment made under a personal pension scheme or a payment made by the Board of the Pension Protection Fund, as possessed by that single claimant or, as the case may be, by ~~F24that member~~ the claimant’s partner;

C3(ii)

in any other case, as possessed by that single claimant ~~F25or by that member~~ or his partner to the extent that it is used for the food, ordinary clothing or footwear, household fuel, rent F26... for which housing benefit F27is payable or F28... any housing costs to the extent that they are met under regulation 17(1)(e) and 18(1)(f) (housing costs) F29..., of that single claimant or, as the case may be, ~~of any member of that family~~ of his partnerF30, or is used for any F31council tax or water charges for which that claimant or ~~member is liable~~ partner is liable;

(b)

F32to a single claimant or a member of the family in respect of a third party (but not in respect of another member of the 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.

to a single claimant or his partner in respect of a third party (but not in respect of another member of his family) shall be treated as possessed by that single claimant or, as the case may be, his partner, to the extent that it is kept or used by him or used by or on behalf of his partner.

F33(3A)

Paragraph (3) shall not apply in respect of a payment of capital made—

(a)

under F34or by the Macfarlane Trust, the Macfarlane (Special Payments) Trust, the Macfarlane (Special Payments) (No.2) Trust, the Fund, the Eileen Trust F35, MFET Limited F36, the Independent Living F37Fund (2006) F38, the Skipton Fund F39, the Caxton Foundation F40, the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme F41, an approved blood scheme F42, the London Emergencies Trust, the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund F43, the National Emergencies Trust F44, the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme or the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund;

(b)

pursuant to section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973 in respect of a person’s participation—

(i)

in an employment programme specified in regulation 75(1)(a)(ii) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996;

(ii)

in a training scheme specified in regulation 75(1)(b)(ii) of those Regulations; or

(F45iia)

in the Intensive Activity Period specified in regulation 75(1)(a)(iv) of those RegulationsF46...; or

(iii)

in a qualifying course within the meaning specified in regulation 17A(7) of those Regulations.

F47(ba)

in respect of a person’s participation in F48a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013 or the Mandatory Work Activity Scheme;

F49(c)

under an occupational pension scheme F50, 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—

(i)

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 1980;

(ii)

the payment is made to the trustee in bankruptcy or any other person acting on behalf of the creditors; and

(iii)

the person referred to in (i) and ~~F51any member of his family~~ his partner (if any) does not possess, or is not treated as possessing, any other income apart from that payment.

F52(3B)

Paragraph (3) shall not apply in respect of F53any of the following payments of capital—

(a)

a Grenfell Tower payment;

(b)

a child abuse payment;

F54(c)

a Windrush payment;

(d)

a Post Office compensation payment;

(e)

a vaccine damage payment;

(f)

an LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme paymentF55;

(g)

a miscarriage of justice compensation payment.

(4)

Where a claimant stands in relation to a company in a position analogous to that of a sole owner or partner in the business of that company, he shall be treated as if he were such sole owner or partner and in such a case—

(a)

the value of his holding in that company shall, notwithstanding regulation 46 (calculation of capital), be disregarded; and

(b)

he shall, subject to paragraph (5), be treated as possessing an amount of capital equal to the value or, as the case may be, his share of the value of the capital of that company and the foregoing provisions of this Chapter shall apply for the purposes of calculating that amount as if it were actual capital which he does possess.

(5)

For so long as the claimant undertakes activities in the course of the business of the company, the amount which he is treated as possessing under paragraph (4) shall be disregarded.

(6)

Where a claimant is treated as possessing capital under any of paragraphs (1) to (4), the foregoing provisions of this Chapter shall apply for the purposes of calculating its amount as if it were actual capital which he does possess.

F56(7)

For the avoidance of doubt a claimant is to be treated as possessing capital under paragraph (1) only if the capital of which he has deprived himself is actual capital.

F57(8)

In paragraph (3) the expression “ordinary clothing or footwear” means clothing or footwear for normal daily use, but does not include school uniforms, or clothing or footwear used solely for sporting activities.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in reg. 51(1) substituted (1.10.1990) by The Income Support (General) Amendment No. 3 Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/1776), regs. 1(1)(a), 5(a) (with reg. 1(2))
F2: Reg. 51(1)(c) and word added (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2)(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Income-related Benefits and Jobseeker’s Allowance (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/2197), regs. 1(2), 5(4)
F3: Reg. 51(1)(c)(d) substituted for reg. 51(1)(c) (2.4.2007) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/719), regs. 1(2), 2(4)(a)
F4: Reg. 51(2)(d) added (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(4) of the amending S.I.) by The Income-related Benefits Schemes and Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/2303), regs. 1(1)(a), 6(5) (with reg. 8)
F5: Words in reg. 51(2)(d) omitted (16.7.2007) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1749), regs. 1, 2(7)
F6: Reg. 51(2)(e) and word added (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2)(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Income-related Benefits and Jobseeker’s Allowance (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/2197), regs. 1(2), 5(4)
F7: Reg. 51(2)(da) inserted (6.4.2006) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2465), regs. 1(5)(a), 2(5)
F8: Words in reg. 51(2)(da) inserted (6.4.2006) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/588), regs. 1(9), 2(3)(a)
F9: Words in reg. 51(2)(da) substituted (6.4.2010) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/641), regs. 1(1), 2(8)
F10: Reg. 51(2)(e)(f) substituted for reg. 51(2)(e) (2.4.2007) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/719), regs. 1(2), 2(4)(b)
F11: Words in reg. 51(2) substituted (11.4.1988) by The Income Support (General) Amendment Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988/663), regs. 1(1), 22(a)
F12: Reg. 51(3) substituted (12.9.1988) by The Income Support (General) Amendment No. 4 Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988/1445), regs. 1(1)(b), 12(a)
F13: Words in reg. 51(3) substituted (24.9.1998) by The Social Security Amendment (New Deal) (No.2) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/2117), regs. 1(1), 3(2)(a)(3)(c)
F14: Words in reg. 51(3) substituted (15.7.2020) by The Social Security (Income and Capital) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/618), regs. 1, 2(5)(a)
F15: Words in reg. 51(3)(a) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2)-(5) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 1 para. 13(a)(i)
F16: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(i) inserted (4.4.2005) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/574), regs. 1(1), 2(5)
F17: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(i) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Income-related Benefits and Jobseeker’s Allowance (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/65), regs. 1(1)(2), 9
F18: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(i) inserted (8.4.2002) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/841), regs. 1(1), 2(3)
F19: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(i) substituted (5.12.2005) by The Social Security (Civil Partnership) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2878), regs. 1, 4(3)
F20: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(i) omitted (5.1.2009) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 7) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/3157), regs. 1(1), 2(4)
F21: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(i) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2)-(5) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 1 para. 13(a)(ii)
F22: Reg. 51(3)(a)(ia) inserted (15.11.1999) by The Social Security Amendment (Notional Income and Capital) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2640), regs. 1(1), 2(1)(a)
F23: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(ia) substituted (6.4.2006) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/588), regs. 1(2), 2(3)(b)
F24: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(ia) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2)-(5) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 1 para. 13(a)(iii)
F25: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(ii) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2)-(5) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 1 para. 13(a)(iv)
F26: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(ii) omitted (4.4.2005) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/574), regs. 1(1), 3(4)
F27: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(ii) substituted (8.4.2002) by The Social Security Amendment (Residential Care and Nursing Homes) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3767), Sch. Pt. 1 para. 8(a)(i)
F28: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(ii) omitted (7.10.1991) by virtue of The Income Support (General) Amendment No. 4 Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/1559), regs. 1(1)(c), 9(a) (with reg. 1(2))
F29: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(ii) omitted (8.4.2002) by virtue of The Social Security Amendment (Residential Care and Nursing Homes) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3767), Sch. Pt. 1 para. 8(a)(ii)
F30: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(ii) added (7.10.1991) by The Income Support (General) Amendment No. 4 Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/1559), regs. 1(1)(c), 9(b) (with reg. 1(2))
F31: Words in reg. 51(3)(a)(ii) substituted (1.4.1993) by The Income-related Benefits Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1993 (S.I. 1993/315), reg. 1(1)(b), Sch. para. 3
F32: Reg. 51(3)(b) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2)-(5) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 1 para. 13(b)
F33: Reg. 51(3A) inserted (24.9.1998) by The Social Security Amendment (New Deal) (No.2) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/2117), regs. 1(1), 3(2)(b)(3)(c)
F34: Words in reg. 51(3A)(a) inserted (6.4.2010) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/641), regs. 1(1), 2(7)(c)
F35: Words in reg. 51(3A)(a) inserted (6.4.2010) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/641), regs. 1(1), 2(3)(d)
F36: Words in reg. 51(3A)(a) substituted (4.10.2004) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2308), regs. 1(1), 3(1)(2)(a)
F37: Words in reg. 51(3A)(a) substituted (17.11.2008) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.6) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2767), regs. 1(2), 2(6)(c)
F38: Words in reg. 51(3A)(a) substituted (12.12.2005) by The Income-related Benefits (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3391), regs. 1, 2(3)
F39: Words in reg. 51(3A)(a) inserted (31.10.2011) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2425), regs. 1(2), 7(6)
F40: Words in reg. 51(3A)(a) inserted (3.4.2017) by The Social Security (Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/329), regs. 1, 3(3)(c)
F41: Words in reg. 51(3A)(a) inserted (23.10.2017) by The Social Security (Infected Blood and Thalidomide) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/870), regs. 1, 2(3)(c)
F42: Words in reg. 51(3A)(a) inserted (19.6.2017) by The Social Security (Emergency Funds) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/689), regs. 1, 2(3)(c)
F43: Words in reg. 51(3A)(a) inserted (15.7.2020) by The Social Security (Income and Capital) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/618), regs. 1, 2(5)(b)
F44: Words in reg. 51(3A)(a) inserted (27.10.2023) by The Social Security (Habitual Residence and Past Presence, and Capital Disregards) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1144), regs. 1(1), 3(3)(b)
F45: Reg. 51(3A)(b)(iia) inserted (9.4.2001) by The Social Security Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/1029), regs. 1(1), 15(8)(9)(c)
F46: Words in reg. 51(3A)(b)(iia) omitted (14.4.2008) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/698), regs. 1(1), 2(8)(b)
F47: Reg. 51(3A)(ba) inserted (5.8.2011) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1707), regs. 1, 4(6)(7)
F48: Words in reg. 51(3A)(ba) substituted (12.2.2013 at 6.45 p.m.) by The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/276), regs. 1, 13(b)
F49: Reg. 51(3A)(c) added (15.11.1999) by The Social Security Amendment (Notional Income and Capital) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2640), regs. 1(1), 2(3)(c)
F50: Words in reg. 51(3A)(c) substituted (6.4.2006) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/588), regs. 1(2), 2(3)(c)
F51: Words in reg. 51(3A)(c)(iii) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2)-(5) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 1 para. 13(c)
F52: Reg. 51(3B) inserted (15.7.2020) by The Social Security (Income and Capital) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/618), regs. 1, 2(5)(c)
F53: Words in reg. 51(3B) substituted (1.1.2022) by The Social Security (Income and Capital Disregards) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1405), regs. 1, 2(5)
F54: Reg. 51(3B)(c)-(f) substituted for reg. 51(3B)(c)-(e) (28.2.2025) by The Social Security (Income and Capital Disregards) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/44), regs. 1(1), 2(5)
F55: Reg. 51(3B)(g) inserted (22.7.2025) by The Social Security (Income and Capital Disregards) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/778), regs. 1(1), 2(5)
F56: Reg. 51(7) added (11.4.1988) by The Income Support (General) Amendment Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988/663), regs. 1(1), 22(c)
F57: Reg. 51(8) added (12.9.1988) by The Income Support (General) Amendment No. 4 Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988/1445), regs. 1(1)(b), 12(b)

Modifications

C1: Reg. 51(2) applied with modifications (1.4.1993) by The National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/2977), regs. 1, 25(3)(a)
C2: Reg. 51(2)(c) modified (E.W.) (1.4.2015) by The Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/2672), regs. 1, 22(2)(3); S.I. 2014/2473, arts. 2(1)(d), 7; S.I. 2015/993, art. 2(b)(c)
C3: Reg. 51(3)(a)(ii) applied with modifications (1.4.1993) by The National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/2977), regs. 1, 25(3)(b)

Commencement

I1: Reg. 51 in force at 11.4.1988, see reg. 1

Notes on the whole SI

Textual amendments

F1: 1986 c. 50; section 84(1) is an interpretation provision and is cited because of the meanings assigned to the words “prescribed” and “regulations”.
F2: 1975 c. 14; section 114 is applied by section 52(3)(b) of the Social Security Act 1986 (c. 50); section 166(3A) is inserted by section 62 of that Act and section 166(1) to (3A) is applied by section 83(1) of that Act.

Notes on Part V

Modifications

C1: Pt. V applied (with modifications) (S.) (6.10.2003) by The National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2003 (S.S.I. 2003/460), reg. 1, sch. Pt. I Table A (with reg. 13)

Notes on Chapter VI

Modifications

C1: Pt. V applied (with modifications) (S.) (6.10.2003) by The National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2003 (S.S.I. 2003/460), reg. 1, sch. Pt. I Table A (with reg. 13)
C2: Pt. V Ch. VI applied (with modifications) (S.) (6.10.2003) by The National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2003 (S.S.I. 2003/460), reg. 1, sch. Pt. I Table A (with reg. 13)