# The Social Security (Housing Costs Amendments) Regulations 2015, Note: Explanatory note


(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/794), the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1967) and the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/207) to increase the waiting period before housing costs (including help with mortgage interest) can be met to 39 weeks from 13 weeks (regulations 2 to 4). They also amend the Universal Credit Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2013/376) to increase the waiting period before housing costs can be met to 9 assessment periods from 3 (regulation 5). This is subject to savings for certain claimants (regulation 8). The definition of “qualifying period” in the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1230) is amended to reflect the change to the waiting period in universal credit (regulation 6).
Regulation 7 revokes provisions in the Social Security (Housing Costs Special Arrangements) (Amendment and Modification) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/3195) (“the Special Arrangements Regulations”), except for those that are relevant to the capital limit for eligible loans, the 104 week limit applicable to eligible loans in the case of a jobseeker’s allowance and the modifications relating to claimants of state pension credit. This is also subject to savings (regulation 8).
The 13 week waiting period introduced by the Special Arrangements Regulations is saved in respect of claimants who are in a waiting period for housing costs on 31st March 2016 (regulation 8).
The Special Arrangements Regulations modified the provisions relating to the housing costs that can be met by an employment and support allowance, income support or a jobseeker’s allowance by:
reducing the 26 week or the 39 week waiting period before housing costs may be met to 13 weeks;
providing that the maximum appropriate amount for qualifying loans was £200,000 instead of £100,000;
providing that no amount may be met in respect of interest on a qualifying loan where a jobseeker’s allowance claimant has been in receipt of interest on a qualifying loan for 104 weeks except where the person was previously entitled to income support or an employment and support allowance within a period of 12 weeks or less; and
modifying the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1792) with the result that the maximum appropriate amount for qualifying loans was £200,000 in the case of some claimants who had previously been awarded an employment and support allowance, income support or a jobseeker’s allowance.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the private sector or civil society organisations.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/1647/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-housing-costs-amendments-regulations-2015/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.