# The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987, Paragraph 9: Priority as between certain debts

Extent: E+W+S

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1A) Where in any one week—
(a) more than one of paragraphs 3 to 7A, 7C or 7E are applicable to the beneficiary; or
(b) one or more of those paragraphs are applicable to the beneficiary and one or more of the following provisions, namely, Schedule 9A, regulation 2 of the Community Charges Regulations, regulation 3 of the Community Charges Regulations, regulation 3 of the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations, regulation 4 of the Fines Regulations, regulation 5 of the Council Tax Regulations and regulation 9 of the Integration Loans for Refugees and Others Regulations 2007 also applies; and
(c) the amount of the specified benefit which may be made to third parties is insufficient to meet the whole of the liabilities for which provision is made;
the order of priorities specified in sub-paragraph (1)(B) shall apply.
(1B) The order of priorities which shall apply in sub-paragraph (1)(A) is—
(za) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(a) any liability mentioned in paragraph 3 (housing costs), paragraph 4 (miscellaneous accommodation costs) or paragraph 4A (hostel payments);
(b) any liability mentioned in paragraph 5 (service charges for fuel and rent not falling within paragraph 2(1)(a));
(c) any liability mentioned in paragraph 6 (fuel costs);
(d) any liability mentioned in paragraph 7 (water charges);
(e) any liability mentioned in regulation 3 of the Community Charges Regulations (deductions from income support etc.), regulation 3 of the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations (deductions from income support etc.) or any liability mentioned in regulation 5 of the Council Tax Regulations (deductions from debtor’s income support etc.);
(f) any liability mentioned in regulation 4 of the Fines Regulations (deductions from offender’s income support etc.);
(g) any liability mentioned in paragraph 7A (payments in place of payments of child support maintenance).
(ga) any liability to repay an integration loan which is recoverable by deductions.
(h) any liability mentioned in paragraph 7C (liability in respect of loans).
(i) any liability mentioned in paragraph 7E (tax credits overpayment debts and self-assessment debts).
(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3) As between liabilities for items of gas or electricity the Secretary of State shall give priority to whichever liability it considers it would, having regard to the circumstances and to any requests of the beneficiary, be appropriate to discharge.
(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1987/1968/schedule/9/paragraph/9 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-claims-and-payments-regulations-1987/schedule-9/paragraph-9
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.