These Regulations may be cited as the Income-related Benefits (Amendment) Regulations 2005 and shall come into force on 5th August 2005.

(1)    The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 are amended as follows.

(2)    In Schedule 10 (capital to be disregarded), after paragraph 22 insert—

(1)    An amount equal to any interim assistance grant paid by the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund for the purpose of relieving immediate need faced by the claimant arising in consequence of—

(a)    an injury he suffered in the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005 as a result of which he stayed at least one night in hospital, or

(b)    the death of a partner or close relative of his in, or as a result of, those attacks.

(2)    A disregard which applies by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) shall have effect only in relation to—

(a)    an award of income support during which the grant is paid, and

(b)    where that award is followed by one or more further awards of income support which begins immediately after the end of the previous award, such further award, provided that the claimant in respect of that further award—

(i)    is the person who received the grant, or

(ii)    is the partner of that person, or was the partner of that person at the date of the latter's death.

(3)    In sub-paragraph (1), “the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund” means the company limited by guarantee (number 5505072) and registered charity of that name established on 11th July 2005 for the purpose of (amongst other things) relieving sickness, disability or financial need of victims (including families or dependants of victims) of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005.”.

(1)    The Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 are amended as follows.

(2)    In Schedule 5 (capital to be disregarded), after paragraph 23 insert—

(1)    An amount equal to any interim assistance grant paid by the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund for the purpose of relieving immediate need faced by the claimant arising in consequence of—

(a)    an injury he suffered in the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005 as a result of which he stayed at least one night in hospital, or

(b)    the death of a partner or close relative of his in, or as a result of, those attacks.

(2)    A disregard which applies by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) shall have effect only in relation to—

(a)    an award of housing benefit during which the grant is paid, and

(b)    where that award is followed by one or more further awards of housing benefit which begins immediately after the end of the previous award, such further award, provided that the claimant in respect of that further award—

(i)    is the person who received the grant, or

(ii)    is the partner of that person, or was the partner of that person at the date of the latter's death.

(3)    In sub-paragraph (1), “the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund” means the company limited by guarantee (number 5505072) and registered charity of that name established on 11th July 2005 for the purpose of (amongst other things) relieving sickness, disability or financial need of victims (including families or dependants of victims) of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005.”.

(3)    In Schedule 5ZA (capital to be disregarded), after paragraph 16 insert—

(1)    An amount equal to any interim assistance grant paid by the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund for the purpose of relieving immediate need faced by the claimant arising in consequence of—

(a)    an injury he suffered in the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005 as a result of which he stayed at least one night in hospital, or

(b)    the death of a partner or close relative of his in, or as a result of, those attacks.

(2)    A disregard which applies by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) shall have effect only in relation to—

(a)    an award of housing benefit during which the grant is paid, and

(b)    where that award is followed by one or more further awards of housing benefit which begins immediately after the end of the previous award, such further award, provided that the claimant in respect of that further award—

(i)    is the person who received the grant, or

(ii)    is the partner of that person, or was the partner of that person at the date of the latter's death.

(3)    In sub-paragraph (1), “the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund” means the company limited by guarantee (number 5505072) and registered charity of that name established on 11th July 2005 for the purpose of (amongst other things) relieving sickness, disability or financial need of victims (including families or dependants of victims) of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005.”.

(4)    The amendment made by paragraph (3) is to the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 as modified in their application to persons to whom regulation 2(1) of the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations 2003 applies.

(1)    The Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992 are amended as follows.

(2)    In Schedule 5 (capital to be disregarded), after paragraph 23 insert—

(1)    An amount equal to any interim assistance grant paid by the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund for the purpose of relieving immediate need faced by the claimant arising in consequence of—

(a)    an injury he suffered in the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005 as a result of which he stayed at least one night in hospital, or

(b)    the death of a partner or close relative of his in, or as a result of, those attacks.

(2)    A disregard which applies by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) shall have effect only in relation to—

(a)    an award of council tax benefit during which the grant is paid, and

(b)    where that award is followed by one or more further awards of council tax benefit which begins immediately after the end of the previous award, such further award, provided that the claimant in respect of that further award—

(i)    is the person who received the grant, or

(ii)    is the partner of that person, or was the partner of that person at the date of the latter's death.

(3)    In sub-paragraph (1), “the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund” means the company limited by guarantee (number 5505072) and registered charity of that name established on 11th July 2005 for the purpose of (amongst other things) relieving sickness, disability or financial need of victims (including families or dependants of victims) of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005.”.

(3)    In Schedule 5ZA (capital to be disregarded), after paragraph 16 insert—

(1)    An amount equal to any interim assistance grant paid by the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund for the purpose of relieving immediate need faced by the claimant arising in consequence of—

(a)    an injury he suffered in the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005 as a result of which he stayed at least one night in hospital, or

(b)    the death of a partner or close relative of his in, or as a result of, those attacks.

(2)    A disregard which applies by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) shall have effect only in relation to—

(a)    an award of council tax benefit during which the grant is paid, and

(b)    where that award is followed by one or more further awards of council tax benefit which begins immediately after the end of the previous award, such further award, provided that the claimant in respect of that further award—

(i)    is the person who received the grant, or

(ii)    is the partner of that person, or was the partner of that person at the date of the latter's death.

(3)    In sub-paragraph (1), “the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund” means the company limited by guarantee (number 5505072) and registered charity of that name established on 11th July 2005 for the purpose of (amongst other things) relieving sickness, disability or financial need of victims (including families or dependants of victims) of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005.”.

(4)    The amendment made by paragraph (3) is to the Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992 as modified in their application to persons to whom regulation 12(1) of the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations 2003 applies.

(1)    The Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996 are amended as follows.

(2)    In Schedule 8 (capital to be disregarded), after paragraph 27 insert—

(1)    An amount equal to any interim assistance grant paid by the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund for the purpose of relieving immediate need faced by the claimant arising in consequence of—

(a)    an injury he suffered in the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005 as a result of which he stayed at least one night in hospital, or

(b)    the death of a partner or close relative of his in, or as a result of, those attacks.

(2)    A disregard which applies by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) shall have effect only in relation to—

(a)    an award of a jobseeker's allowance during which the grant is paid, and

(b)    where that award is followed by one or more further awards of a jobseeker's allowance which begins immediately after the end of the previous award, such further award, provided that the claimant in respect of that further award—

(i)    is the person who received the grant,

(ii)    is the partner of that person, or was the partner of that person at the date of the latter's death, or

(iii)    in the case of a joint-claim jobseeker's allowance, is a joint-claim couple either member of which received the grant.

(3)    In sub-paragraph (1), “the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund” means the company limited by guarantee (number 5505072) and registered charity of that name established on 11th July 2005 for the purpose of (amongst other things) relieving sickness, disability or financial need of victims (including families or dependants of victims) of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005.”.

(1)    The State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 are amended as follows.

(2)    In Part I of Schedule V (capital disregarded for the purpose of calculating income), after paragraph 15 insert—

(1)    An amount equal to any interim assistance grant paid by the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund for the purpose of relieving immediate need faced by the claimant arising in consequence of the death of a partner or close relative of his in, or as a result of, the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005.

(2)    A disregard which applies by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) shall have effect only in relation to—

(a)    an award of state pension credit during which the grant is paid, and

(b)    where that award is followed by one or more further awards of state pension credit which begins immediately after the end of the previous award, such further award, provided that the claimant in respect of that further award—

(i)    is the person who received the grant, or

(ii)    is the partner of that person, or was the partner of that person at the date of the latter's death.

(3)    In sub-paragraph (1), “the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund” means the company limited by guarantee (number 5505072) and registered charity of that name established on 11th July 2005 for the purpose of (amongst other things) relieving sickness, disability or financial need of victims (including families or dependants of victims) of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005.”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Stephen C Timms

Minister of State,

Department for Work and Pensions

3rd August 2005

These Regulations amend the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987, the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987, the Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992 and the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996 so as to make provision in each set of Regulations for an interim assistance grant paid by the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund to a person who was injured, or was a partner or close relative of someone killed, in or as a result of the terrorist attacks carried out in London on 7th July 2005, to be disregarded when calculating that person's capital for the purpose of an award of benefit where the grant is paid during the award. The disregard will last for the remainder of that award (or further awards if there is no break in-between).

They also amend the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 so as to provide for an interim assistance grant paid by that Fund to a person who was a partner or close relative of someone killed in, or as a result of, those attacks to be disregarded when calculating that person's income from capital for the purpose of an award of state pension credit where the grant is paid during the award. Again, the disregard will last for the remainder of that award (or further awards if there is no break in-between).

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the cost of business.