Appendix 6
S.I. 2020/27
Rent Officers (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Functions) (Amendment) Order 2020
1.In its letter to the Department of 12th February 2020, the Committee requested a memorandum on the following point:
Explain why it was not possible to make these regulations earlier so that the 21-day rule could have been complied with.
2.The Department’s response to the Committee’s point is set out below.
3.Decisions regarding changes in Local Housing Allowance rates were delayed by the General Election, and a decision was not reached until January. This Order needed to come into force by the last working day in January so that the rates could come into effect on the following 1st April, in accordance with article 4B(2B) of the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit) Order 1997 (S.I. 1997/1984). The Department apologises for this breach, and that only a brief explanation was provided in the Explanatory Memorandum.
Department for Work and Pensions
18 February 2020
Published: 6 March 2020