Disregarding local welfare provision as income or capital for the purposes of means-tested benefits in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule ensures that payments made under the Homes for Ukraine scheme will not affect a sponsor's benefit entitlement

New regulations have been issued in relation to disregarding local welfare provision as income or capital for the purposes of means-tested benefits in Northern Ireland.

In force from 4 May 2022, the Income-Related Benefits (Local Welfare Provision Disregard) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (SR.No.172/2022) provide that certain payments made by a Northern Ireland Department (or a person authorised to exercise any function or service on their behalf) for welfare purposes - including payments under the Homes for Ukraine scheme - should be disregarded when assessing the claimants income and/or capital when assessing eligibility for - 

• income support;
• income-based jobseeker's allowance;
• income-related employment and support allowance;
• housing benefit; and
• state pension credit.

The regulations also provide for any such payments to be disregarded as capital for universal credit.

NB - the explanatory memorandum confirms that the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 already make provision to disregard payments of unearned income when assessing entitlement.

SR.No.172/2022 is available from legislation.gov.uk