2012 No. 834

Social Security

The Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2012

Made

Coming into force

Following a review in the tax year ending with 5th April 2012 of the sums specified in section 150(1)(a)(i) and (i) of the Social Security Administration Act 19921 (“the 1992 Act”) (annual up-rating of benefits) the Treasury have determined that the general level of prices in Great Britain is greater at the end of the period under review than it was at the beginning.

In accordance with sections 150(2)(a) and (c) and 190(1)(a) of the 1992 Act, a draft of this Order was laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Accordingly the Treasury make the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 150(9) and (10)(a)(i) and 189(4) of the 1992 Act and now vested in them2.

Citation and commencement1

This Order may be cited as the Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2012 and comes into force on 9th April 2012.

Amendment of Schedule 4 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 19922

In paragraph 5 of Part 3 of Schedule 4 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 19923 (weekly rate of guardian’s allowance) for “£14.75” substitute “£15.55”.

Child benefit3

In regulation 2(1) of the Child Benefit (Rates) Regulations 20064—

a

in sub-paragraph (a)(enhanced rate), the sum “£20.30” remains unchanged; and

b

in sub-paragraph (b)(other cases), the sum “£13.40” remains unchanged.

Michael FabricantJames DuddridgeTwo of the Lords Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Treasury
EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order is made by the Treasury following a review of the general level of prices conducted under section 150 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5) in the tax year ending 5th April 2012.

The weekly rate of guardian’s allowance was last amended by the Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1029).

Article 2 increases the weekly rate of guardian’s allowance prescribed by paragraph 5 of Part 3 of Schedule 4 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4) from £14.75 to £15.55 with effect from 9th April 2012.

Article 3 states that no change is made in relation to the rates of child benefit which were substituted in regulation 2(1) of the Child Benefit (Rates) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/965) by the Child Benefit Up-rating Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/982). This statement is required by virtue of section 150(2)(c) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.

A full Impact Assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.