Maximum weekly disregard

Hi,  I have a client in receipt of WPA as well as regular charitable payments.  The L.A (HB/CTB) have not disregarded the £15.00 p/w from the WPA because (in their words) she already exceeds the maximum £20.00 p/w disregard from the charitable payments, which they have disregard in full.  Does anyone have any idea where I can find the rules which states otherwise?  Thanks

Hi Angela.

The disregard from weekly payments of Widowed Parent’s Allowance is £15 per week.

(see para 16 of Schedule 5 of the HB Regulations 2006).

In any particular claim for HB the maximum weekly disregard is £20 from all or any of the follwing -

certain war and disblement pensions;
for working age claimants, student loan and access fund income; and
for pension age claims, certain payments made by discretionary trusts.

(see para 34 of para 16 of Schedule 5 of the HB Regulations 2006)

However, charitable and voluntary payments are not included in the above list so are completely disregarded as income irrespective of their size i.e. there is no cumulative £20 limit..

(see para 14 of Schedule 5 of the HB Regulations 2006 and paragraph W2.532 of Chapter BW2 of the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual).

On this basis, I think your client’s WPA should be subject to the full £15 per week disregard.

Hello Ken, thank you for this quick reply and relevant info to quote.  Regards, Angela