House of Commons portcullis
House of Commons
Session 2004 - 05
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

Council Tax Benefit (Entitlement Information) Bill


Council Tax Benefit (Entitlement Information) Bill

1

 

A

Bill

To

require billing authorities and local authorities to contact pensioners who

may be entitled to council tax benefit. 

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       

Amendment of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992

(1)   

The Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4) is amended as

follows.

(2)   

In section 123(4)(a) (steps to be taken to make persons aware of entitlement),

for the words “such steps”, substitute the words “the step specified in

5

subsection (5) and such other steps”.

(3)   

After section 123(4), insert—

“(5)   

The step specified in this subsection is to contact each person of

pensionable age to whom subsection (4)(a) applies—

(a)   

by sending him a personally-addressed letter at the address of

10

the chargeable dwelling in respect of which council tax is

payable by him, or

(b)   

by visiting him in person at that dwelling, or

(c)   

by doing both those things,

   

in order to inform him that he may be entitled to council tax benefit.”

15

(4)   

In section 137(1), after the definition of “billing authority”, insert—

“‘chargeable dwelling’ has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the

Local Government Finance Act 1992;”.

2       

Expenses

There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament any increase attributable to

20

this Act in the sums payable out of money so provided under any other enactment.

 
Bill 33 53/4
 
 

Council Tax Benefit (Entitlement Information) Bill

2

 

3       

Short title, commencement and extent

(1)   

This Act may be cited as the Council Tax Benefit (Entitlement Information) Act

2005.

(2)   

This Act shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by

order appoint.

5

(3)   

The power to make orders under subsection (2) includes power to make

different provision in relation to commencement in—

(a)   

England,

(b)   

Scotland, and

(c)   

Wales.

10

(4)   

The power to make orders under subsection (2) is exercisable by statutory

instrument.

(5)   

Before acting under subsection (2) in relation to Scotland, the Secretary of State

shall consult the Scottish Ministers.

(6)   

Before acting under subsection (2) in relation to Wales, the Secretary of State

15

shall consult the National Assembly for Wales.

(7)   

This Act does not extend to Northern Ireland.

 
 

 
contents
 
House of Commons home page Houses of Parliament home page House of Lords home page search page enquiries

© Parliamentary copyright 2005
Revised 13 January 2005