Explanatory note

Regulations 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 amend respectively 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 Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/794), and the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/376).

In particular, they amend as appropriate provisions regarding which payments are to be disregarded as income and capital for the purposes of calculating entitlement to benefits in order to create a new disregard. The disregard covers payments pursuant to the Ministry of Defence’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Financial Recognition Scheme (“the Scheme”).

Regulations 4 and 9 amend respectively the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/2205) and the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) (Lump Sum Payments) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1596) to exempt payments under the Scheme from compensation recovery pursuant to the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 (c. 27).

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