A
BILL
TO
Provide for the early payment of winter fuel allowance to eligible persons
whose residences are not connected to the mains gas grid and whose principal
source of fuel is home fuel oil, liquid petroleum gas or propane gas; and for
connected purposes.
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and
consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present
Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
(1)
The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/729S.I. 2000/729) are
amended as follows.
(2)
In regulation 1(2) leave out ““qualifying week” means in respect of any year the
5week beginning on the third Monday in the September of that year” and
insert—
“ “qualifying week” means—
in respect of any year for an applicant whose home is
connected to the mains gas grid the week beginning on
10the third Monday in the September of that year; or
in respect of any year for an applicant whose home is not
connected to the mains gas grid the week beginning on
the third Monday in the July of that year.”
(1)
15The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/729S.I. 2000/729) are
amended as follows.
(2) In regulation 4, leave out paragraph (1) and insert—
“(1)
Subject to paragraph (2) the Secretary of State may make a winter
fuel payment under regulation 2 to a person who (disregarding
20regulation 3(b)) appears from official records held by the Secretary of
State to be entitled to a payment under that regulation—
Winter Fuel Allowance Payments (Off Gas Grid Claimants) BillPage 2
(a)
in respect of an applicant whose home is not connected to the
mains gas grid, before 30 September of the year in which the
qualifying week falls, or
(b)
in respect of an applicant whose home is connected to the
5mains gas grid, before 31 March of the year following the year
in which the qualifying week falls.
(1A)
Payments made under paragraph (1)(a) are made in respect of the
forthcoming winter.
(1B)
Payments made under paragraph (1) (b) are made in respect of the
10preceding winter.”
There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament—
(a)
any expenditure incurred under or by virtue of this Act by the Secretary of
State, and
(b)
15any increase attributable to the Act in the sums payable under any other Act
out of money so provided.
(1) This Bill extends to England and Wales, and Scotland.
(2)
This Act may be cited as the Winter Fuel Allowance Payments (Off Gas Grid
20Claimants) Act 2012.