The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 2000

Amendment of regulation 12A of the Housing Benefit Regulations

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

(a)in paragraph (1A)(2)–

(i)for the words “the following information in respect of the payments which that claimant is liable to make in respect of the dwelling which he occupies as his home” there shall be substituted the words “the total amount of those payments referred to in regulation 10(1) (rent) which that claimant is liable to make in respect of the dwelling which he occupies as his home and shall provide the following information in respect of those payments ”; and

(ii)in sub-paragraph (a) after the words “environmental services” there shall be inserted the words “or charges in respect of meals or fuel which are ineligible by virtue of paragraph 1A and Part II of Schedule 1 (ineligible service charges)”;

(b)in paragraph (2) for the words “claim or notification” wherever they appear there shall be substituted the words “claim, notification or request ”;

(c)after paragraph (7) there shall be inserted the following paragraph–

“(7A) Where the appropriate authority has identified charges specified in paragraph (1ZA)(3) it shall–

(a)deduct those charges from the total amount of those payments which, in accordance with paragraph (1A), it has stated that the claimant is liable to make in respect of the dwelling which he occupies as his home; and

(b)notify that total so reduced to the rent officer in its application under paragraph (1) for his use in making determinations under Schedule 1 (determinations) to the Rent Officers Order.”; and

(d)in paragraph (8) the definition of “determination” shall be omitted.