Limitations of the help topics

The help topics are designed to allow you use the program properly. They are not a substitute for an understanding of the concepts and complexities of means-testing.

Sources of the law

Most of the guidance given in these help screens is based on the Act and regulations which establish this scheme, that is the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 Housing Renewal Grants Regulations 1996. Reference is also made to the Circulars produced by the Department of the Environment, and other sources of the law such as the Social Security Act 1992 and reported decisions of the Social Security Commissioners.

References to these sources are attributed in the following form:

HGC&R Act 96 Sec 110(2)(b) & (c) 
Housing Renewal Grant Regs 96 Reg 32 
Circular 12/90 Annex B Sec 2 
SS(C&B)A 92 Sec 20(11) 
R(SB)8/86

where R is for reported, and the benefit concerned is denoted by the initials in brackets. The above example is a decision about Supplementary Benefit. Decisions are numbered consecutively for each year. This is therefore the 8th decision to be reported on Supplementary Benefit in 1986.

Further guidance

The Housing Renewal Grant Regulations are derived directly from the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations and are broadly similar to the Income Support (General) Regulations. There is therefore a common structure now underlying means-testing, whether it be for Income Support or renovation grant purposes.

This is why guidance on other aspects of the means-testing system should be useful, although close checking needs to be done to ensure that the relevant legislation is identical.

The following sources should, with that proviso, be found useful:

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit: The Legislation . Annotated by Lorna Findlay. Child Poverty Action Group

Housing Benefits Guidance Manual . The Official DSS/DoE Guidance to Local Authorities on how to administer Housing Benefit. HMSO

Decision Makers Guide : 13 volumes, loose leaf. Guidance from the Chief Adjudication Officer to his Adjudication Officers on how to interpret social security law. HMSO

Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook . The lay representatives 'Bible'. Child Poverty Action Group