The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Electronic Communications) Order 2006

Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Electronic Communications) Order 2006 and shall come into force on 20th December 2006.

Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006

2.—(1) The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006(1) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation)—

(a)after the definition of “the 1973 Act” insert—

““the 2000 Act” means the Electronic Communications Act 2000;”; and

(b)after the definition of “the Eileen Trust” insert—

““electronic communication” has the same meaning as in section 15(1) of the 2000 Act;”.

(3) After regulation 83 (time and manner in which claims are to be made) insert—

“Electronic claims for benefit

83A.  A claim for housing benefit may be made by means of an electronic communication in accordance with Schedule 11.”.

(4) After regulation 88 (duty to notify changes of circumstances) insert—

“Notice of changes of circumstances given electronically

88A.  A person may give notice of a change of circumstances required to be notified under regulation 88 by means of an electronic communication in accordance with Schedule 11.”.

(5) After Schedule 10 (prescribed authorities) insert as Schedule 11 the Schedule set out in the Schedule to this Order.

Amendment of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006

3.—(1) The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006(2) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation)—

(a)after the definition of “the 1973 Act” insert—

““the 2000 Act” means the Electronic Communications Act 2000;”; and

(b)after the definition of “the Eileen Trust” insert—

““electronic communication” has the same meaning as in section 15(1) of the 2000 Act;”.

(3) After regulation 64 (time and manner in which claims are to be made) insert—

“Electronic claims for benefit

64A.  A claim for housing benefit may be made by means of an electronic communication in accordance with Schedule 10.”.

(4) After regulation 69 (duty to notify changes of circumstances) insert—

“Notice of changes of circumstances given electronically

69A.  A person may give notice of a change of circumstances required to be notified under regulation 69 by means of an electronic communication in accordance with Schedule 10.”.

(5) After Schedule 9 (prescribed authorities) insert as Schedule 10 the Schedule set out in the Schedule to this Order.

Amendment of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006

4.—(1) The Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation)—

(a)after the definition of “the 1992 Act” insert—

““the 2000 Act” means the Electronic Communications Act 2000;”; and

(b)after the definition of “the Eileen Trust” insert—

““electronic communication” has the same meaning as in section 15(1) of the 2000 Act;”.

(3) After regulation 69 (time and manner in which claims are to be made) insert—

“Electronic claims for benefit

69A.  A claim for council tax benefit may be made by means of an electronic communication in accordance with Schedule 9.”.

(4) After regulation 74 (duty to notify changes of circumstances) insert—

“Notice of changes of circumstances given electronically

74A.  A person may give notice of a change of circumstances required to be notified under regulation 74 by means of an electronic communication in accordance with Schedule 9.”.

(5) After Schedule 8 (prescribed authorities) insert as Schedule 9 the Schedule set out in the Schedule to this Order.

Amendment of the Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006

5.—(1) The Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006(4) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation)—

(a)after the definition of “the 1992 Act” insert—

““the 2000 Act” means the Electronic Communications Act 2000;”; and

(b)after the definition of “the Eileen Trust” insert—

““electronic communication” has the same meaning as in section 15(1) of the 2000 Act;”.

(3) After regulation 53 (time and manner in which claims are to be made) insert—

“Electronic claims for benefit

53A.  A claim for council tax benefit may be made by means of an electronic communication in accordance with Schedule 8.”.

(4) After regulation 59 (duty to notify changes of circumstances) insert—

“Notice of changes of circumstances given electronically

59A.  A person may give notice of a change of circumstances required to be notified under regulation 59 by means of an electronic communication in accordance with Schedule 8.”.

(5) After Schedule 7 (prescribed authorities) insert as Schedule 8 the Schedule set out in the Schedule to this Order.