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.
Article 2Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006#
(1)The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 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;”
(3)After regulation 83 (time and manner in which claims are to be made) insert—“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—“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.
Article 3Amendment of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006#
(1)The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 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;”
(3)After regulation 64 (time and manner in which claims are to be made) insert—“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—“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.
Article 4Amendment of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006#
(1)The Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 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;”
(3)After regulation 69 (time and manner in which claims are to be made) insert—“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—“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.
Article 5Amendment of the Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006#
(1)The Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 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;”
(3)After regulation 53 (time and manner in which claims are to be made) insert—“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—“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.