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The Scottish Ministers in exercise of the powers conferred by section 240A of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987[1] and all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Regulations, a draft of which has, in accordance with section 240A(3) of that Act, been laid before and approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament: Citation and commencement 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Housing Grants (Assessment of Contributions) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 and shall come into force on 1st October 2003. Interpretation 2. - (1) In these Regulations-
(b) an increase of disablement pension under section 104 of the 1992 Act; (c) a payment under regulations made in exercise of the power conferred by paragraph 7(2)(b) of Part II of Schedule 8 to the 1992 Act (constant attendance allowance); (d) an increase of an allowance which is payable in respect of constant attendance under a scheme under, or having effect under, paragraph 4 of Part I of Schedule 8 to the 1992 Act[3] (industrial diseases benefit schemes); (e) any payment based on need for attendance which is paid as part of a war disablement pension; (f) a payment by virtue of article 14, 15, 16, 43 or 44 of the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme 1983[4] or any analogous payment;
(ii) which is managed wholly or mainly in or from Scotland; or
(b) which is-
(ii) a charity which is not required to register by virtue of subsection (5) of that section;
(2) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires-
(b) any reference to a numbered paragraph is a reference to the paragraph bearing that number in that regulation; and (c) any reference to a numbered Schedule is a reference to the Schedule to these Regulations bearing that number.
Applications to which Part II applies 3. The classes of application to which this Part of these Regulations apply are-
(ii) any member of that owner's family occupies or intends to occupy that house as that member's main or only residence;
(b) the application by a tenant in terms of section 236A of the Act where paragraph (d) or (e) does not apply and-
(ii) any member of that tenant's family occupies or intends to occupy that house as that member's main or only residence;
(c) the application by a liferenter where paragraph (d) or (e) does not apply and that liferenter is responsible for the works detailed in the application;
(ii) the application is made by a person who, in respect of that disabled occupant-
(bb) if there is no such person-
(bbB) in any other case the person who has the primary responsibility for that disabled occupant.
Assessment of applicant's contributions 4. - (1) The amount to be treated as the applicant's contribution for the purposes of an application as mentioned in regulation 3 shall be assessed by-
(b) multiplying the approved expense by the corresponding percentage figure specified opposite that range of income in column 2 of that Schedule.
(2) For the purposes of this regulation "total applicable income" means the sum of the incomes of all relevant persons over the assessment period reduced by the sum of any allowable deductions in respect of those relevant persons.
(b) any spouse of the applicant who is living with or intending to live with the applicant including all spouses in polygamous marriages; and (c) except in the case of an application as specified in regulation 3(d) or 3(e), any joint owner, joint tenant or joint liferenter of the applicant and any spouse of such joint owner, joint tenant or joint liferenter who is living with or intending to live with such joint owner, joint tenant or joint liferenter including all spouses in polygamous marriages.
(4) For the purpose of paragraph (3)(b) and (c) a spouse shall be treated as not living with or intending to live with the applicant or joint owner, joint tenant or joint liferenter of the applicant where that spouse is living away from the applicant or joint owner, joint tenant or joint liferenter, and does not intend to resume living with the applicant or joint owner, joint tenant or joint liferenter. Determination of income of relevant person 5. The income of a relevant person shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions of this Chapter and Chapters IV to VI. Determination of income over the assessment period 6. The income of each relevant person shall be determined by aggregating income over the assessment period from-
(b) net earnings from employment as a self employed earner, determined in accordance with this Chapter and Chapter V of this Part; and (c) income other than earnings, determined in accordance with this Chapter and Chapter VI of this Part.
Determination of income where not reasonably possible to assess over assessment period
(b) actual income for any shorter period of time within the relevant assessment period and multiplied by an appropriate factor to produce an equivalent amount for a 52 week period,
and the amount so determined shall be treated as the relevant person's income for the purpose of these Regulations.
(b) income based jobseeker's allowance; or (c) guarantee credit.
Earnings of employed earners 10. - (1) Subject to paragraph (2), "earnings" means in the case of employment as an employed earner, the gross remuneration or profit from that employment and includes-
(b) any payment in lieu of remuneration except any periodic sum paid to a relevant person on account of the termination of that relevant person's employment by reason of redundancy; (c) any payment in lieu of notice or any lump sum payment intended as compensation for the loss of employment but only to the extent that it represents loss of income; (d) any holiday pay except any payable more than 4 weeks after termination or interruption of the employment; (e) any payment by way of a retainer; (f) any payment made by the relevant person's employer in respect of expenses not wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred in the performance of the duties of the employment, including any payment made by the employer in respect of-
(ii) expenses incurred by the relevant person under arrangements made for the care of a member of that relevant person's family owing to the relevant person's absence from home;
(g) any award of compensation made under section 112(1) and (4) or 117(3)(a) of the Employment Rights Act 1996[21] (remedies and compensation for unfair dismissal);
(2) Earnings shall not include-
(b) any payment in respect of expenses wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred in the performance of the duties of employment; (c) any occupational pension.
Determination of net earnings of employed earners
(ii) primary Class 1 contributions under Part I of the 1992 Act;
(b) one-half of any sum paid by the relevant person by way of a contribution towards an occupational pension scheme; and
Earnings of self employed earners 12. "Earnings" means, in the case of employment as a self employed earner, the gross income of that employment and includes any allowance paid under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973[22] or section 2 of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990[23] to the relevant person for the purposes of assisting that person in carrying on that business. Determination of net profit of self-employed earners 13. - (1) The net earnings of a relevant person derived from profit as a self employed earner shall, for the purposes of regulation 6, be determined in accordance with the following paragraphs (2) to (10). (2) In the case of a self employed earner who is engaged in employment on that self-employed earner's own account, the net profit derived from that employment. (3) In the case of a self employed earner whose employment is carried on in partnership or is that of a share fisherman within the meaning of the Social Security (Mariners' Benefits) Regulations 1975[24], his share of the net profit derived from that employment, less an amount in respect of income tax and of social security contributions payable under the 1992 Act determined in accordance with regulation 14. (4) For the purposes of paragraph (2) the net profit of the employment shall, except where paragraph (9) applies, be determined by taking into account the earnings of the employment over the assessment period less-
(b) an amount in respect of-
(ii) social security contributions payable under the 1992 Act,
determined in accordance with regulation 14; and
(5) For the purposes of paragraph (2) the net profit of the employment shall be determined by taking into account the earnings of the employment over the assessment period less, subject to paragraphs (6) to (8), any expenses wholly and exclusively incurred in that period for the purposes of that employment.
(b) any depreciation of any capital asset; (c) any sum employed or intended to be employed in the setting up or expansion of the employment; (d) any loss incurred before the beginning of the assessment period; (e) the repayment of capital on any loan taken out for the purposes of the employment; (f) any expenses incurred in providing business entertainment; and (g) any debts, except bad debts proved to be such, but this sub paragraph shall not apply to any expenses incurred in the recovery of a debt.
(7) A deduction shall be made under paragraph (4)(a) or (5) in respect of
(ii) the repair of an existing business asset except to the extent that any sum is payable under an insurance policy for its repair;
(b) the excess of any value added tax paid by the relevant person in respect of taxable supplies made to that relevant person, over any such tax received by that relevant person in respect of taxable supplies made by that relevant person, calculated with reference to the assessment period;
(8) No deduction shall be made in respect of any expenses under paragraph (4)(a) or (5) where, given the nature and the amount of the expense, it has been unreasonably incurred.
(ii) social security contributions payable under the 1992 Act,
determined in accordance with regulation 14; and
(10) For the avoidance of doubt, where a relevant person is engaged in employment as a self employed earner and that relevant person is also engaged in one or more other employments as a self employed earner or employed earner any loss incurred in any one of that relevant person's employments shall not be offset against earnings in any other of that relevant person's employments.
(b) the amount of Class 4 contributions, if any, which would be payable under section 15 of that Act as the percentage rate applicable at the date of the application on so much of the chargeable income as exceeds the lower limit but does not exceed the upper limit of profits and gains applicable for the tax year in which the date of the application falls; but if the assessment period is less than a year, those limits shall be reduced pro rata.
(3) In this regulation "chargeable income" means-
(b) in the case of employment as a child minder, one third of the earnings of that employment.
Determination of income other than earnings 15. Income other than earnings shall, for the purpose of regulation 6, be determined in accordance with this Chapter. Sums to be disregarded in the determination of other income 16. - (1) The income of a relevant person shall include income under this Chapter but any amount paid by way of tax on income shall be disregarded. (2) There shall be disregarded from the determination of a relevant person's income under this Chapter any sum, where applicable, specified in Schedule 2. (3) Where the payment of any benefit under the 1992 Act is subject to any deduction by way of recovery, the amount to be taken into account under paragraph (1) shall be the gross amount payable. Notional income and joint income and capital 17. - (1) A relevant person shall be treated as possessing income as determined in accordance with Chapters III, IV, V and this Chapter of which that relevant person has deprived themself for the purpose of increasing the amount of grant. (2) A relevant person shall be treated as possessing income as determined in accordance with Chapters III, IV, V and this Chapter which that relevant person could reasonably have expected to receive during the period of assessment but which that relevant person has not received. (3) Where a relevant person and one or more persons are entitled to benefit from any income under this Chapter they should be treated for the purpose of determining income as if each of them were entitled to an equal share of the payment. Determination of income from capital and investments 18. - (1) Any investment income from capital and investments shall, for the purposes of regulation 6 and this regulation, be taken into account as income of a relevant person and includes income from-
(b) all interest payments from the date they are credited to the relevant person, including interest which is reinvested.
(2) Any investment income from capital and investments shall, for the purposes of regulation 6 and this regulation, exclude-
(b) any payment from any other charitable body.
Determination of income from pensions
(b) an occupational pension; (c) a personal pension scheme; and (d) a retirement annuity contract.
Determination of housing benefit as income
(b) any payment of income, other than a payment of income made under any of the MacFarlane Trusts, the Independent Living Funds or the Fund, made-
(ii) to a relevant person or a member of the relevant person's family in respect of a third party, shall be treated as possessed by the relevant person to the extent that it is kept or used by the relevant person or used on behalf of the relevant person's family;
(c) any payment received under an annuity other than a retirement annuity contract;
Determination of allowable deductions 24. Allowable deductions for the purposes of regulation 4(2) shall be determined in accordance with this Chapter. Allowable deductions for mortgage or rent 25. - (1) Subject to paragraph (3) rental payments made by the relevant person for the purpose of allowing-
(b) any member of the relevant person's family,
to occupy any property as that person's or, as the case may be, that member's main or only residence shall be allowable deductions.
(b) in respect of carrying out repairs or improvements to the property; (c) where another standard security over the property has been redeemed and the payment would have, had it been made under the redeemed security, qualified as rental payment under paragraphs (a) or (b).
(3) For the purposes of the case referred to in paragraph (1)(b), the payment is a rental payment only where the relevant person is contractually obliged to make that payment.
(ii) subject to paragraph (2), where that other person is in receipt of a disability living allowance or is registered blind, an additional allowance of £42 for each week of the assessment period;
(b) where a relevant person has no spouse, an allowance of £35 for each week of the assessment period where that relevant person is in receipt of-
(ii) the disability element of the working tax credit; (iii) disabled person's tax credit; (iv) severe disablement allowance; (v) incapacity benefit; (vi) mobility supplement; (vii) attendance allowance; or (viii) any equivalent benefit paid to meet attendance, or mobility needs due to disability or illness;
(c) where a relevant person has no spouse, an allowance of £35 for each week of the assessment period where that relevant person is not in receipt of any benefits specified in paragraph (1)(b) but that relevant person-
(ii) was previously in receipt of a benefit under paragraph (1)(b) but has ceased to receive that benefit due to the maximum age limit for that benefit being reached or because that person is being treated as an inpatient;
(d) where paragraph (1)(e) does not apply, where a relevant person has a spouse but would otherwise qualify for an allowance under paragraphs (1)(b) or (c), an allowance of £50 for each week of the assessment period;
(2) Where more than one relevant person is responsible for another person in terms of regulation 27 then the allowances provided for at paragraph (1)(a)(i) or (ii) shall be applied only once in respect of each such other person for whom those relevant persons are responsible.
(b) aged sixteen or above but below the age of 21 and in a full time course of education; or (c) aged 21 if aged 20 at the beginning of the academic year of the full time course of education in which the person is engaged.
(2) A person shall be treated for the purposes of paragraph (1) as normally living with-
(b) if there is no such person and where only one claim for child benefit has been made in respect of that person, the person who made that claim; (c) the person whose means could have been taken into account for the purposes of determining a student loan in respect of that person provided under the Education (Student Loans) (Scotland) Regulations 1999[26]; or (d) in any other case the person who has the primary responsibility for that person.
(3) In this regulation "full-time course of education" means a course of education requiring attendance for 24 weeks or more during any period of one year-
(b) provided by
(ii) a college of further education,
involving more than 16 hours per week of programmed learning, which may consist of any combination of-
(bb) workshop-based learning; or (cc) use of structured learning packages supported by teaching staff.
Interpretation 28. In this Part of these Regulations-
Applications to which Part III applies
(b) an application which relates to other premises (within the meaning of section 108(8)(b) of the Act) other than a house and which relates to a repairs notice that has been served in terms of that section.
Determination of added value
(b) any charitable body or other body that does not trade for profit and is established for the purpose of, or has among its objects and powers-
(ii) the provision, construction, improvement or management of houses for occupation by members of the body, where the rules of the body restrict membership to persons entitled or prospectively entitled (as tenants or otherwise) to occupy a house provided or managed by the body; (iii) acquiring, or repairing and improving, or creating by the conversion of houses or other property, houses to be disposed of on sale, on lease or on shared ownership terms; or (iv) constructing houses to be disposed of on shared ownership terms.
Calculation of applicant's contribution
(ii) to facilitate the re-occupation of the house or houses which have been vacant for no less than 2 years prior to the date of application;
(b) that the works to the house to which the application relates will bring the house up to the tolerable standard in terms of section 86 of the Act;
(ii) the cost of the improvements or repairs will be shared among the owners or occupiers of those houses or other separate premises;
(e) that the works to which the application relates shall-
(ii) exceed the requirements of the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990[28] in this respect;
(f) that the applicant is-
(ii) any charitable body or other body that does not trade for profit and is established for the purpose of, or has among its objects and powers-
(bb) the provision, construction, improvement or management of houses for occupation by members of the body, where the rules of the body restrict membership to persons entitled or prospectively entitled (as tenants or otherwise) to occupy a house provided or managed by the body; (cc) acquiring, or repairing and improving, or creating by the conversion of houses or other property, houses to be disposed of on sale, on lease or on shared ownership terms; or (dd) constructing houses to be disposed of on shared ownership terms.
Applicant's contribution not to be less than added value Assessment of contributions where application falls outwith Part II and Part III 35. In the case of any application to which neither Part II nor Part III applies, the amount to be treated as the applicant's contribution shall be assessed as an amount equal to the approved expense. Application of Regulations 36. These Regulations shall not have effect in relation to applications for grant approved before these Regulations came into force. MARY MULLIGAN Authorised to sign on behalf of the Scottish Executive St Andrew's House, Edinburgh 29th September 2003
1. Any payment in respect of any expenses incurred by a relevant person who is-
(b) a volunteer
if he otherwise derives no remuneration or profit from the employment.
(b) Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme 1983[32]; (c) Pensions (Polish Forces) Scheme 1964[33]; and (d) War Pensions (Mercantile Marine) Scheme 1964[34].
(This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations provide a means of assessment of an applicant's contribution to the cost of works for which improvement grants, repairs grants and grants for a means of escape from fire for a house in multiple occupation may be given by a local authority. The Regulations are made under section 240A of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987. Part I of the Regulations deals with commencement and interpretation. Part II of the Regulations sets out the means test in relation to applications for grant from owner occupiers, tenants, liferenters, disabled persons or the person responsible for a disabled person under the age of 16. In the last 2 cases the works must be to make the property suitable for the needs of the disabled occupant. Chapter I details the applications to which Part II applies. Chapter II sets out the formula for calculating the applicant's contribution and details who are the relevant persons whose income will be taken into account when calculating the applicant's contribution. Schedule 1 contains a table enabling the actual calculation of the applicant's contribution. Chapter III deals with general provisions in relation to how the income of relevant persons is assessed with detailed provisions being provided in Chapter IV in relation to employed earners, Chapter V in relation to self employed earners and Chapter VI in relation to other income. Schedule 2 details certain sums that are to be disregarded when determining income. Finally, Chapter VII details what constitute allowable deductions against income. Part III of the Regulations sets out the method of calculation of the applicant's contribution in relation to applications for grant from owners who are not in occupation of the house to which the application relates or where the application is for repairs grant as a result of a repairs notice over premises other than a house where those premises are part of a building which contains housing. Part IV of the Regulations states that where an application for grant falls into neither Part II nor Part III of the Regulations, the applicant's contribution shall be the whole of the amount approved by the local authority, being the expense of the carrying out of the works. Part V of the Regulations provides that the Regulations shall not apply in respect of applications approved by a local authority before the 1st October 2003 (the date on which these Regulations come into force). Notes: [1] 1987 c.26. Section 240A was inserted by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 (asp 10), section 99.back [2] 1992 c.4 as amended by the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c.1), Schedule 6.back [3] See section 5 of the Industrial Injuries and Diseases (Old Cases) Act 1975 (c.16) which was repealed, with savings, by the Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1992 (c.6).back [4] S.I. 1983/686; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1983/1164 and 1984/1675.back [9] See section 1 of, and paragraphs 1 and 2(h) of Schedule 1 to, the Tax Credits Act 1999 (c.10).back [14] 1988 c.1; the definition of "lower rate" was inserted by the Finance Act 1992 (c.20), section 9.back [16] S.I. 1983/883; article 26A was inserted by S.I. 1983/1116.back [17] S.I. 1983/686; article 25A was inserted by S.I. 1983/1164.back [20] Section 68 was amended by section 9 of, paragraph 18 of Schedule 1 to and Schedule 2 to, the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994 (c.18).back [22] 1973 c.50; section 2 was substituted by the Employment Act 1988 (c.19), section 25, and repealed in part by the Employment Act 1989 (c.38), section 29 and Schedule 7. Section 2(3A) was inserted in relation to Scotland only by the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993 (c.19), section 47.back [23] 1990 c.35; section 2 was amended by the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993 (c.19), section 51 and Schedule 10.back
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