Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1967), the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/207), the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1792), the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/213), the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/214) and the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/794). They make changes to several social security benefits that would more usually be included in an up-rating order.

Regulations 2, 3, 6 and 7 amend the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987, the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996, the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 and the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 so as to increase the pensioner premiums, change the income bands for non-dependant deductions and increase the amounts of the non-dependant deductions themselves.

Regulation 4 amends the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 so as to increase the amounts prescribed for the savings credit thresholds, including in the case of a polygamous marriage, and to increase the standard minimum guarantee in the case of a polygamous marriage. It also changes the income bands for non-dependant deductions and increases the amounts of the non-dependant deductions themselves.

Regulation 5 amends the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 to change the income bands for non-dependant deductions and to increase amounts of the non-dependant deductions themselves.

An Impact Assessment has not been published for this instrument as it has no new impact on business or civil society organisations.