Explanatory note

These Regulations further amend the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1967), the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1971), the Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/1814) and the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/207) (“the income-related benefits regulations”).

Regulation 2 amends the income disregard provisions of the income-related benefits regulations in relation to relevant payments so that relevant payments that are used for council tax or water charges will be disregarded to the extent of £20.

Regulation 3 provides an income disregard for payments which derive from Skipton Fund payments and it also excludes Skipton Fund payments from the notional capital rules (regulations 3(1)-(5)).

In relation to housing benefit and council tax benefit, regulations 3(6) and (7) provide that a person is not required to furnish any evidence and information about a Skipton Fund payment when making a claim or in connection with an award.

Regulation 4 introduces income and capital disregards for special guardianship payments.

The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1967) are also further amended to—

• – remove references to specific awarding bodies from the definition of “receiving advanced education” in regulation 12(2) (regulation 5(1));

• – exclude lone parents, who participate in certain specified schemes, from the notional earnings rule (regulation 5(2)).

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business.