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), the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/215), the Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/216) and the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/794) (“the income-related benefit regulations”).

The income-related benefit regulations provide that a person is ineligible for benefit where he or she is a “person from abroad”, or “a person not in Great Britain”, for the purposes of the State Pension Credit Regulations, that is to say where he or she is not habitually resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland, subject to a list of exceptions. The amendments made by these Regulations insert a new category into the list of persons who are excepted from having to satisfy the habitual residence test. The amendments exempt a person who: arrived in Great Britain on or after 28 February 2009, but before 18 March 2011; immediately before arriving in the United Kingdom had been resident in Zimbabwe; and, before leaving Zimbabwe, had accepted an offer, made by Her Majesty’s Government, to assist him or her to move to and settle in the United Kingdom.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.