PART 1 General

Citation and commencement

1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Payments on Account of Benefit) Regulations 2013.

(2) They come into force—

(a) for the purposes of this Part and Part 2 (except the provisions specified in paragraph (3)) and Part 4, on 1st April 2013;

(b) for all other purposes, on 29th April 2013.

(3) The specified provisions are—

(a) in regulation 2(1)

(i) the definitions of “the UC etc. Claims and Payments Regulations”, “the Universal Credit Regulations” and “universal credit”;

(ii) paragraph (a) of the definition of “couple”;

(b) regulation 2(2) and (3)(a);

(c) regulation 3(1)(a) and (2)(a)(i) and (b)(i);

(d) regulation 5(3)(a);

(e) regulation 7(2); and

(f) regulation 8(2).

Interpretation

2. —(1) In these Regulations—

“ the 1995 Act ” means the Jobseekers Act 1995 ;

“ the 2007 Act ” means the Welfare Reform Act 2007 ;

“ the 2012 Act ” means the Welfare Reform Act 2012;

“ the Contributions and Benefits Act ” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 ;

“ the 1988 Regulations ” means the Social Security (Payments on account, Overpayments and Recovery) Regulations 1988 ;

“ the Claims and Payments Regulations ” means the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 ;

“ the UC etc. Claims and Payments Regulations ” means the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker's Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013 ;

“ the Universal Credit Regulations ” means the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 ;

“couple” —

“ partner ” means, where the person being referred to is a member of a couple, the other member of the couple;

“ universal credit ” means the benefit under Part 1 of the 2012 Act.

(2) Where these Regulations apply in relation to universal credit, “ child ” and “ qualifying young person ” have the same meaning as in Part 1 of the 2012 Act and whether or not a person is responsible for a child or qualifying young person is to be determined in accordance with regulation 4 of the Universal Credit Regulations.

(3) In these Regulations, “ writing ” includes writing produced by means of electronic communications and, where such communications are used by the Secretary of State—

(a) Schedule 2 to the UC etc. Claims and Payments Regulations; or, as the case may be,

(b) Schedule 9ZC to the Claims and Payments Regulations ,

has effect in connection with notices required to be given or sent under regulations 8 and 17 as it has effect in connection with claims for, and awards of, any benefit to which those Regulations apply.

PART 2 Payments on account of benefit

Definition of “benefit”

3. —(1) In this Part, “ benefit ” means any of the following—

(a) universal credit;

(b) employment and support allowance;

(c) income support;

(d) jobseeker's allowance;

(e) state pension credit;

(f) benefit under Parts 2 to 5 of the Contributions and Benefits Act except attendance allowance , disability living allowance and guardian’s allowance .

(g) a state pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act 2014.

(2) For the purpose of paragraph (1)—

(a) “ employment and support allowance ” means an allowance under—

(i) Part 1 of the 2007 Act as amended by Schedule 3, and Part 1 of Schedule 14, to the 2012 Act (to remove references to an income-related allowance); and

(ii) Part 1 of the 2007 Act as it has effect apart from the amendments made by Schedule 3, and Part 1 of Schedule 14, to the 2012 Act;

(b) “ jobseeker's allowance ” means an allowance under—

(i) the 1995 Act as amended by Part 1 of Schedule 14 to the 2012 Act (to remove references to an income-based allowance); and

(ii) the 1995 Act as it has effect apart from the amendments made by Part 1 of Schedule 14 to the 2012 Act.

Payments on account of benefit

4. —(1) The Secretary of State may, subject to paragraph (2), make a payment on account of benefit to a person (“A”) in accordance with this Part.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply pending the determination of an appeal relating to the benefit on account of which the payment would otherwise have been made.

Payment on account of benefit where there is no award of benefit

5. —(1) The Secretary of State may make a payment on account of benefit to A if—

(a) either of paragraphs (2) or (3) applies;

(b) it appears to the Secretary of State likely that the conditions of entitlement for benefit are satisfied (or will be satisfied during the period in respect of which the payment is to be made) ; ...

(c) the Secretary of State is satisfied that A is in financial need ; and

(d) where the payment on account of benefit is to be on account of universal credit, A has been allocated a national insurance number.

(2) This paragraph applies where A has made a claim for benefit but the claim has not yet been determined.

(3) This paragraph applies where A is not required to make a claim for benefit by virtue of—

(a) regulation 6 or 7 of the UC etc. Claims and Payments Regulations (claims not required for entitlement to universal credit or an employment and support allowance in certain cases); or, as the case may be,

(b) regulation 3 of the Claims and Payments Regulations (claims not required for entitlement to benefit in certain cases) ,

but an award of benefit has not yet been made.

Payment on account of benefit where there is an award of benefit

6. —(1) The Secretary of State may make a payment on account of benefit to A if—

(a) an award of benefit has been made to A;

(b) any of paragraphs (2) to (5) applies; and

(c) the Secretary of State is satisfied that A is in financial need.

(2) This paragraph applies where—

(a) A currently satisfies the conditions of entitlement to that benefit; and

(b) the date on which the first payment of that benefit to A is due to be made in accordance with the award has not yet been reached.

(3) This paragraph applies where—

(a) the first payment of that benefit has been made to A in accordance with the award;

(b) the period in respect of which that payment was made is shorter than the period in respect of which subsequent payments of that benefit are to be made in accordance with that award should entitlement continue; and

(c) the date on which a subsequent payment of that benefit is due to be made to A has not yet been reached.

(4) This paragraph applies where there has been a change of circumstances which would increase the amount of benefit payable under the award and—

(a) the award has not yet been revised or superseded to reflect that change; or

(b) the award has been revised or superseded to reflect that change but the date on which the payment of benefit is due to be made in accordance with the revised or superseded award has not yet been reached.

(5) This paragraph applies where—

(a) A is entitled to a payment of that benefit pursuant to the award; and

(b) it is impracticable to make some or all of that payment on the day on which it is due.

Definition of financial need

7. —(1) A is in financial need for the purposes of regulation 5(1)(c) or 6(1)(c) where the circumstances in regulation 5(2) or (3) or, as the case may be, 6(2), (3), (4) or (5) result in a serious risk of damage to the health or safety of A or any member of their family.

(2) Where the payment on account of benefit is to be on account of universal credit, the following are members of A's family for the purpose of paragraph (1)—

(a) any child or qualifying young person for whom A is responsible; and

(b) where A is a member of a couple, their partner.

(3) Where the payment on account of benefit is to be on account of a benefit specified in regulation 3(1)(b) to (g) , for the purpose of paragraph (1), “ family ” has the meaning given in section 137(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act .

Requirement for notice

8. —(1) The Secretary of State must, on or before making a payment on account of benefit to A, give or send notice in writing to A of their liability—

(a) to have the amount of the payment on account of benefit deducted from subsequent payments of benefit; and

(b) to repay the amount of any payment on account of benefit to the extent that it is not deducted from subsequent payments of benefit.

(2) Where A is a member of a couple and the payment on account of benefit is on account of universal credit, notice in writing must also be given or sent to their partner containing the information referred to in paragraph (1)(a) and (b).

Payment by direct credit transfer

9. A payment on account of benefit may be paid by way of direct credit transfer into a bank account or other account nominated by A or a person acting on A’s behalf.

Bringing payments on account of benefit into account

10. Where it is practicable to do so, a payment on account of benefit—

(a) which was made in anticipation of an award of benefit, is to be offset by the Secretary of State against the sum payable to A under the award of benefit on account of which it was made;

(b) whether or not made in anticipation of an award, which is not offset under paragraph (a), is to be deducted by the Secretary of State from—

(i) the sum payable to A under the award of benefit on account of which it was made; or

(ii) any sum payable under any subsequent award of that benefit to A.

PART 3 Budgeting advances

Payment of budgeting advances

11. —(1) The Secretary of State may make a payment on account of universal credit to a person (“B”) in accordance with this Part.

(2) A payment under this Part is to be known as a budgeting advance.

Conditions for payment of budgeting advances

12. —(1) The Secretary of State may make a budgeting advance to B for the purpose of defraying an intermittent expense of B if—

(a) B makes an application to the Secretary of State for a budgeting advance;

(b) B, or in a case where B is a member of a couple, B or their partner, is in receipt of universal credit;

(c) except where paragraph (2) applies, B or, in a case where B is a member of a couple, B or their partner, has been in receipt of benefit for a continuous period of at least 6 months on the date of the application for a budgeting advance;

(d) the earnings condition in regulation 13 is satisfied; and

(e) the recovery condition in regulation 14 is satisfied.

(2) This paragraph applies where the intermittent expense to be defrayed is necessarily related to B or, in a case where B is a member of a couple, their partner, obtaining or retaining employment.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c), “ benefit ” means—

(a) universal credit;

(b) employment and support allowance;

(c) income support;

(d) jobseeker's allowance; or

(e) state pension credit.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3)—

(a) “ employment and support allowance ” means an income-related allowance under Part 1 of the 2007 Act as it has effect apart from the amendments made by Schedule 3, and Part 1 of Schedule 14, to the 2012 Act (to remove references to an income-related allowance);

(b) “ jobseeker's allowance ” means an income-based jobseeker's allowance under the 1995 Act as it has effect apart from the amendments made by Part 1 of Schedule 14 to the 2012 Act (to remove references to an income-based allowance).

Earnings condition

13.—(1) The earnings condition is satisfied—

(a) in a case where regulation 12(2) (expenses necessarily related to obtaining or retaining employment) does not apply, where paragraph (2) is satisfied;

(b) in a case where regulation 12(2) does apply, where paragraph (4) is satisfied.

(2) This paragraph is satisfied where—

(a) if B is not a member of a couple, B does not have earned income exceeding £2,600, or

(b) if B is a member of a couple, B and their partner jointly do not have earned income exceeding £3,600,

over the relevant period.

(3) In paragraph (2), “the relevant period” means the period covered by the six complete assessment periods preceding the date of the application for the budgeting advance.

(4) This paragraph is satisfied where—

(a) if B is not a member of a couple, B does not have earned income, or

(b) if B is a member of a couple, B and their partner jointly do not have earned income,

exceeding the permitted amount over the applicable period.

(5) In paragraph (4), “the permitted amount over the applicable period” is to be determined by the formula—

(6) For the purposes of paragraphs (4) and (5), “the applicable period” means—

(a) if there are six or more complete assessment periods immediately preceding the date of the application for the budgeting advance, the period covered by the six complete assessment periods immediately preceding the date of the application for the budgeting advance;

(b) if there are fewer than six complete assessment periods immediately preceding the date of the application for the budgeting advance, the number of complete assessment periods immediately preceding the date of the application for the budgeting advance.

(7) Earned income for each complete assessment period is to be calculated for the purposes of this regulation in accordance with Chapter 2 of Part 6 of the Universal Credit Regulations save that in relation to the earned income of a person who is in gainful self-employment for the purpose of regulation 64 of these Regulations, regulation 62 of those Regulations (minimum income floor) is to be disregarded.

(8) In this regulation, “assessment period” has the meaning given in regulation 21 of the Universal Credit Regulations.

Recovery condition

14. The recovery condition is satisfied where—

(a) no amount in respect of any budgeting advance previously paid to B or, if B is a member of a couple, B or their partner, remains to be recovered by the Secretary of State; and

(b) taking into account all debts and other liabilities of B or, if B is a member of a couple, of B and their partner, the Secretary of State is satisfied that the budgeting advance can reasonably be expected to be recovered.

Minimum and maximum amounts payable by way of budgeting advance

15. —(1) The minimum amount payable by way of budgeting advance is £100.

(2) Subject to regulation 16(2), the maximum amount payable by way of budgeting advance is—

(a) where B is neither a member of a couple nor responsible for any child or qualifying young person, £348;

(b) where B is a member of a couple but is not responsible for any child or qualifying young person, £464;

(c) where B is responsible for any child or qualifying young person, £812.

Treatment of capital

16. —(1) Where the total of B's capital or, in a case where B is a member of a couple, the total of B's and their partner's capital, exceeds £1,000, the amount of any budgeting advance which may otherwise be paid must be reduced by the amount by which that capital exceeds £1,000.

(2) No budgeting advance is payable where, as a result of paragraph (1), the amount of any budgeting advance which would otherwise be payable is reduced to less than £100.

(3) Capital is to be calculated for the purposes of paragraph (1) in accordance with Chapter 1 of Part 6 of the Universal Credit Regulations.

Requirement for notice

17. —(1) The Secretary of State must, on or before making a budgeting advance to B, give or send notice in writing to B of their liability—

(a) to have the amount of the budgeting advance deducted from subsequent payments of universal credit; and

(b) to repay the amount of the budgeting advance to the extent that it is not deducted from subsequent payments of universal credit.

(2) Where B is a member of a couple, notice in writing must also be given or sent to their partner containing the information referred to in paragraph (1)(a) and (b).

Payment by direct credit transfer

18. A budgeting advance may be paid by way of direct credit transfer into a bank account or other account nominated by B or a person acting on B’s behalf.

PART 4 Consequential amendments, revocations and savings

Consequential revocation to the 1988 Regulations and savings

19. —(1) Subject to paragraph (2), Part 2 of the 1988 Regulations is revoked.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), Part 2 of the 1988 Regulations is to continue to apply in respect of—

(a) applications for interim payments made before this regulation comes into force; and

(b) interim payments made pursuant to applications referred to in sub-paragraph (a).

Amendments to the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 1999 and saving

20. —(1) In Schedule 2 to the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 1999 (“ the 1999 Regulations ”)(decisions against which no appeal lies)—

(a) in paragraph 20, subject to paragraph (2), omit sub-paragraphs (a) and (b);

(b) after paragraph 20 insert—

“ 20A. A decision of the Secretary of State under the Social Security (Payments on Account of Benefit) Regulations 2013 except a decision under regulation 10 of those Regulations. ” .

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(a), paragraph 20(a) and (b) of Schedule 2 to the 1999 Regulations is to continue to apply in respect of decisions regarding interim payments referred to in regulation 19(2)(b).