Explanatory note

These Regulations further amend the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/215), the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/213), the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1967) and the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/207) (“the Income-related Benefits Regulations”) in so far as they relate to students and sums to be disregarded in the calculation of their entitlement to benefit under the Income-related Benefit Regulations.

The Income-related Benefits Regulations are amended to increase the amounts of grant and loan income to be disregarded in respect of travel costs and the costs of books and equipment and to take account of changes to the provision of support to students by introducing a disregard for tuition fee loans from the calculation of a student’s income.

These Regulations also:

• correct a cross-reference in the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006;

• remove an obsolete provision from the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 and the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 relating to a grant previously paid to certain students under certain legislation;

• make a minor drafting change to the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 and the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006;

• make consequential amendments to The Social Security (Students and Income-related Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1807).

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