Welfare Reform Bill

Session 2010 - 11
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Other Bills before Parliament

Welfare Reform Bill

Welfare Reform Bill
Schedule 3 — Abolition of benefits: consequential amendments
114

Schedule 3
Section 34

Abolition of benefits: consequential amendments
Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4)
1
The Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 is amended as
follows.
5
2
In section 22 (earnings factors), in subsections (2)(a) and (5), for “a
contributory” there is substituted “an”.
3
In section 150 (interpretation of Part 10), in subsection (2), in the definition
of “qualifying employment and support allowance”, for “a contributory
allowance” there is substituted “an employment and support allowance”.
10
Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5)
4
The Social Security Administration Act 1992 is amended as follows.
5
In section 73 (overlapping benefits), in subsections (1) and (4)(c), for “a
contributory” there is substituted “an”.
6
In section 159B (effect of alterations affecting state pension credit), for “a
15
contributory”, wherever occurring, there is substituted “an”.
7
In section 159D (as inserted by Schedule 2 to this Act) (effect of alterations
affecting universal credit), for “a contributory”, wherever occurring, there is
substituted “an”.
Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (c. 33)
20
8
In the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, in section 115 (exclusion from
benefits of persons subject to immigration control)—
(a)
in subsection (1), after paragraph (ha) there is inserted “or”;
(b)
in subsection (2)(b) for “(a) to (j)” substitute “(a) to (i)”.
Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19)
25
9
The Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 is amended as
follows.
10    (1)
Section 69 (discretionary financial assistance with housing) is amended as
follows.
      (2)
In subsection (1)—
30
(a)
for “relevant authorities” there is substituted “local authorities”;
(b)
in paragraph (a), the words from “housing benefit” to “both,” are
repealed.
      (3)
In subsection (2)—
(a)
in paragraph (b), for “relevant authority” there is substituted “local
35
authority”;
(b)
in paragraph (e), for “relevant authorities” there is substituted “local
authorities”;
(c)
in paragraphs (f), (g) and (h), for “relevant authority” there is
substituted “local authority”.
40

Welfare Reform Bill
Schedule 3 — Abolition of benefits: consequential amendments
115

      (4)
In subsection (5), for “relevant authorities” there is substituted “local
authorities”.
      (5)
In subsection (7), for the definition of “relevant authority” there is
substituted—
““local authority” has the meaning given by section 191 of the
5
Social Security Administration Act 1992.”.
11    (1)
Section 70 (grants towards cost of discretionary housing payments) is
amended as follows.
      (2)
In subsection (1), after “payments” there is inserted “(“grants”)”.
      (3)
For subsection (2) there is substituted—
10
“(2)
The amount of a grant under this section shall be determined in
accordance with an order made by the Secretary of State with the
consent of the Treasury.”
      (4)
In subsection (8)—
(a)
for the definition of “relevant authority” there is substituted—
15
““local authority” has the same meaning as in section
69;”;
(b)
the definition of “subsidy” is repealed.
12
After section 70 there is inserted—
“70A
Payment of grant
20
(1)
A grant under section 70 shall be made by the Secretary of State in
such instalments, at such times, in such manner and subject to such
conditions as to claims, records, certificates, audit or otherwise as
may be provided by order of the Secretary of State with the consent
of the Treasury.
25
(2)
The order may provide that if a local authority has not complied with
the conditions specified in it within such period as may be specified
in it, the Secretary of State may estimate the amount of grant under
section 70 payable to the authority and employ for that purpose such
criteria as he considers relevant.
30
(3)
Where a grant under section 70 has been paid to a local authority and
it appears to the Secretary of State that—
(a)
the grant has been overpaid, or
(b)
there has been a breach of any condition specified in an order
under this section,
35

he may recover from the authority the whole or such part of the
payment as he may determine.
(4)
Without prejudice to the other methods of recovery, a sum
recoverable under this section may be recovered by withholding or
reducing subsidy.
40
(5)
An order under this section may be made before, during or after the
end of the period to which it relates.
(6)
In this section “local authority” has the same meaning as in section
69.

Welfare Reform Bill
Schedule 3 — Abolition of benefits: consequential amendments
116

(7)
Section 70(5) to (7) applies to orders under this section.”
Capital Allowances Act 2001 (c. 2)
13
In Schedule A1 to the Capital Allowances Act 2001 (first-year tax credits), in
paragraph 17(1)(b) after “sick pay,” there is inserted “or”.
Social Security Fraud Act 2001 (c. 11)
5
14
The Social Security Fraud Act 2001 is amended as follows.
15
In section 6B (loss of benefit for conviction etc), in subsection (5), for “to (10)”
there is substituted “and (8)”.
16
In section 7 (loss of benefit for repeated conviction etc), in subsection (2), for
“to (5)” there is substituted “and (4A)”.
10
17
In section 11 (regulations), in subsection (3)(c), for the words from “section”
to the end there is substituted “section 6B(5A) or (8), 7(2A) or (4A) or 9(2A)
or (4A)”.
Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11)
18
The Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 is amended as
15
follows.
19
In section 5 (initial functions), in subsection (1), after paragraph (a) there is
inserted “and”.
20
In section 44 (payment into Consolidated Fund), in subsection (3), after
paragraph (b) there is inserted “and”.
20
Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5)
21
The Welfare Reform Act 2007 is amended as follows.
22
In section 1 (employment and support allowance), in subsection (3)(d), at the
end there is inserted “and”.
23
In section 2 (amount of contributory allowance), in subsection (1), for “In the
25
case of a contributory allowance, the amount payable” there is substituted
“The amount payable by way of an employment and support allowance”.
24
In each of the following provisions, for “a contributory allowance” there is
substituted “an employment and support allowance”—
(a)
section 1A(1) and (2) (as inserted by section 51 of this Act);
30
(b)
section 3(2)(d);
(c)
section 18(4);
(d)
section 20(2), (3)(a), (b) and (c), (4), (5)(a), (b) and (c), (6), (7)(a), (b)
and (c);
(e)
section 27(1)(a);
35
(f)
in Schedule 1, paragraphs 1(5)(d) and 3(2)(a);
(g)
in Schedule 2, paragraphs 6 and 7(2)(d).
Corporation Tax Act 2009 (c. 4)
25
The Corporation Tax Act 2009 is amended as follows.

Welfare Reform Bill
Schedule 4 — Housing credit element of state pension credit
Part 1 — Amendments to State Pension Credit Act 2002
117

26
In section 1059 (relief relating to SME R&D: total amount of company’s
PAYE and NICs liabilities), in subsection (5) after “sick pay” there is inserted
“or”.
27
In section 1108 (relief relating to vaccine research etc: total amount of
company’s PAYE and NICs liabilities), in subsection (5) after “sick pay”
5
there is inserted “or”.
Schedule 4
Section 35

Housing credit element of state pension credit
Part 1
Amendments to State Pension Credit Act 2002
10
State Pension Credit Act 2002 (c. 16)
1
The State Pension Credit Act 2002 is amended as follows.
2
In section 1 (entitlement), in subsection (2)(c), at the end there is inserted “or
(iii)
the conditions in section 3A(1) and (2) (housing
credit).”
15
3
In that section, in subsection (3)—
(a)
after paragraph (b) there is inserted “or
(c)
to a housing credit, calculated in accordance with
section 3A, if he satisfies the conditions in subsections
(1) and (2) of that section,”;
20
(b)
for the words from “(or to both)” to the end there is substituted “(or
to more than one of them, if he satisfies the relevant conditions)”.
4
After section 3 there is inserted—
“3A
Housing credit
(1)
The first of the conditions mentioned in section 1(2)(c)(iii) is that the
25
claimant is liable to make payments in respect of the accommodation
he occupies as his home.
(2)
The second of the conditions mentioned in section 1(2)(c)(iii) is that
the claimant’s capital and income are such that the amount of the
housing credit payable (if he were entitled to it) would not be less
30
than a prescribed amount.
(3)
Where the claimant is entitled to a housing credit, the amount of the
housing credit shall be an amount calculated in or determined under
regulations (which may be zero).
(4)
For the purposes of subsection (1)—
35
(a)
the accommodation must be in Great Britain;
(b)
the accommodation must be residential accommodation;
(c)
it is immaterial whether the accommodation consists of the
whole or part of a building and whether or not it comprises
separate and self-contained premises.
40

Welfare Reform Bill
Schedule 4 — Housing credit element of state pension credit
Part 2 — Amendments to other Acts
118

(5)
Regulations may make provision as to—
(a)
the meaning of “payments in respect of accommodation” for
the purposes of this section (and, in particular, as to the extent
to which such payments include mortgage payments);
(b)
circumstances in which a claimant is to be treated as liable or
5
not liable to make such payments;
(c)
circumstances in which a claimant is to be treated as
occupying or not occupying accommodation as his home
(and, in particular, for temporary absences to be
disregarded);
10
(d)
circumstances in which land used for the purposes of any
accommodation is to be treated as included in the
accommodation.
(6)
Regulations under this section may make different provision for
different areas.”
15
5
In section 7 (fixing of retirement provision for assessed income period), at
the end there is inserted—
“(10)
Regulations may prescribe circumstances in which subsection (3)
does not apply for the purposes of determining the amount of a
housing credit to which the claimant is entitled.”
20
6
In section 12 (polygamous marriages), in subsection (2)(b), after “savings
credit” there is inserted “or housing credit”.
7
In section 17 (interpretation), in subsection (1), after the definition of
“guarantee credit” there is inserted—
““housing credit” shall be construed in accordance with
25
sections 1 and 3A;”.
8
In Schedule 2 (consequential amendments etc), paragraph 9(5)(a) is
repealed.
Part 2
Amendments to other Acts
30
Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5)
9
The Social Security Administration Act 1992 is amended as follows.
10
In section 5 (regulations about claims and payments) in subsection (6),
before “subsection” there is inserted “or housing credit (within the meaning
of the State Pension Credit 2002)”.
35
11
In section 15A (mortgage interest)—
(a)
in subsection (1A)—
(i)
in paragraph (b), for “the appropriate minimum guarantee
for the purposes of” there is substituted “entitlement to”;
(ii)
in the closing words, for “appropriate minimum guarantee
40
for the purposes of” there is substituted “entitlement to”;
(b)
in subsection (4), the definition of “appropriate minimum guarantee”
is repealed.
12    (1)
Section 122F (supply by rent officers of information) is amended as follows.

Welfare Reform Bill
Schedule 5 — Universal credit and other working-age benefits
119

      (2)
In subsection (3)(a) at the end of the words in brackets there is inserted “or
housing credit”.
      (3)
In subsection (4) at the end there is inserted “or housing credit”.
      (4)
After that subsection there is inserted—
“(5)
In this section “housing credit” has the same meaning as in the State
5
Pension Credit Act 2002”.
Housing Act 1996 (c. 52)
13    (1)
Section 122 of the Housing Act 1996 (rent officers) is amended as follows.
      (2)
In the heading, at the end there is inserted “and housing credit”.
      (3)
In subsection (1), at the end there is inserted “or housing credit (within the
10
meaning of the State Pension Credit Act 2002)”.
Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19)
14
In section 69 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000
(discretionary financial assistance with housing), in subsection (1)(a), after
“universal credit” there is inserted “or housing credit (within the meaning of
15
the State Pension Credit Act 2002)”.
Schedule 5
Section 36

Universal credit and other working-age benefits
General
1     (1)
In this Schedule “relevant benefit” means—
20
(a)
jobseeker’s allowance, or
(b)
employment and support allowance.
      (2)
In this Schedule “work-related requirement” means—
(a)
a work-related requirement within the meaning of this Part,
(b)
a work-related requirement within the meaning of the Jobseekers
25
Act 1995, or
(c)
a work-related requirement within the meaning of Part 1 of the
Welfare Reform Act 2007.
      (3)
In this Schedule “sanction” means a reduction of benefit under—
(a)
section 26 or 27,
30
(b)
section 6J or 6K of the Jobseekers Act 1995, or
(c)
section 11J of the Welfare Reform Act 2007.
Dual entitlement
2     (1)
Regulations may make provision as to the amount payable by way of a
relevant benefit where a person is entitled to that benefit and universal
35
credit.

Welfare Reform Bill
Schedule 5 — Universal credit and other working-age benefits
120

      (2)
Regulations under sub-paragraph (1) may in particular provide for no
amount to be payable by way of a relevant benefit.
      (3)
Regulations may, where a person is entitled to a relevant benefit and
universal credit—
(a)
make provision as to the application of work-related requirements;
5
(b)
make provision as to the application of sanctions.
      (4)
Provision under sub-paragraph (3)(a) includes in particular—
(a)
provision securing that compliance with a work-related requirement
for a relevant benefit is to be treated as compliance with a work-
related requirement for universal credit;
10
(b)
provision disapplying any requirement on the Secretary of State to
impose, or a person to comply with, a work-related requirement for
a relevant benefit or universal credit.
      (5)
Provision under sub-paragraph (3)(b) includes in particular—
(a)
provision for the order in which sanctions are to be applied to
15
awards of relevant benefit and universal credit;
(b)
provision to secure that the application of a sanction to an award of
a relevant benefit does not result in an increase of the amount of an
award of universal credit.
Movement between working-age benefits
20
3
Regulations may provide—
(a)
in a case where a person ceases to be entitled to universal credit and
becomes entitled to a relevant benefit, for a sanction relating to the
award of universal credit to be applied to the award of the relevant
benefit;
25
(b)
in a case where a person ceases to be entitled to a relevant benefit and
becomes entitled to universal credit, for a sanction relating to the
award of the relevant benefit to be applied to the award of universal
credit;
(c)
in a case where a person ceases to be entitled to one relevant benefit
30
and becomes entitled to the other, for a sanction relating to the award
of the former to apply to the award of the latter.
Hardship payments
4
Regulations under section 28 (hardship payments) may be made in relation
to a person whose award of universal credit is reduced by virtue of
35
regulations under paragraph 2(3)(b) or 3(b) as in relation to a person whose
award is reduced under section 26 or 27.
Earnings tapers
5
In section 4 of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (amount payable by way of a
jobseeker’s allowance), in subsection (1)(b)—
40
(a)
after “making” there is inserted—
“(i)
deductions in respect of earnings calculated in
the prescribed manner (which may include
multiplying some or all earnings by a
prescribed percentage), and
45