The Housing Benefit (General) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 1999

Amendment of regulation 12A of the Housing Benefit Regulations

6.  In paragraph (1A) of regulation 12A of the Housing Benefit Regulations(1) (requirement to refer to rent officers)—

(a)in sub-paragraph (a) for the word “they” there shall be substituted the words “those payments”;

(b)for sub-paragraph (b) there shall be substituted the following sub-paragraph—

“(b)where those payments include any of the service charges specified in paragraph (1ZA)—

(i)that such charges are included; and

(ii)the amount of those charges which the appropriate authority has determined as—

(aa)ineligible to be met by housing benefit in accordance with regulation 10(3) and Schedule 1 (ineligible service charges); and

(bb)eligible to be met by housing benefit in accordance with regulation 10(3), that Schedule and Schedule 1B (service charges for claimants in supported accommodation).”;

(c)sub-paragraph (c)(2) shall be omitted; and

(d)after paragraph (1A) there shall be inserted the following paragraph—

“(1ZA) Charges in respect of the following are the service charges to which sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (1A) applies—

(a)the cleaning of rooms and windows (except services specified in sub-paragraphs (a)(iv)(aa) or (bb) of paragraph (1) of Schedule 1 (ineligible service charges));

(b)the provision of an emergency alarm system;

(c)medical expenses;

(d)the provision of nursing care or personal care; and

(e)general counselling or other support services.”