uksi/2019/252 — The Tax Credits and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Regulations 2019

2019 No. 252 Social Security Tax Credits The Tax Credits and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Regulations 2019 Made 13th February 2019 Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2) Following a review under section 41(1) of the Tax Credits Act 2002 in the tax year 2018-19 of some of the amounts specified in section 41(2) of that Act, the Treasury have determined that Regulations should be made prescribing increases in some of those amounts. Following a review of the sums specified in section 150(1)(a)(i) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (“the Great Britain Administration Act”) in the tax year 2018-19, 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. These Regulations make provision under section 150 of the Great Britain Administration Act and make corresponding provision for Northern Ireland in accordance with section 132(1) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (“the Northern Ireland Administration Act”). A draft of these Regulations was laid before Parliament in accordance with section 66(1) and (2)(a) of the Tax Credits Act 2002, sections 150(2)(a) and 190(1) of the Great Britain Administration Act, and section 166(10A) of the Northern Ireland Administration Act, and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament. The Treasury make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 9, 11, 65(1) and 67 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 , sections 150(2)(a), (5), (9) and (10)(a)(i) of the Great Britain Administration Act , and section 132(1) of the Northern Ireland Administration Act and now exercisable by them. Citation, commencement and effect 1 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Tax Credits and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Regulations 2019. 2 These Regulations come into force on 6th April 2019 except for regulations 4 and 5 which come into force on 8th April 2019. 3 Regulations 2 and 3 have effect in relation to awards of tax credits for the tax year beginning on 6th April 2019 and subsequent tax years. Amendment of the Working Tax Credit (Entitlement and Maximum Rate) Regulations 2002 2 The table in Schedule 2 (maximum rates of the elements of a working tax credit) to the Working Tax Credit (Entitlement and Maximum Rate) Regulations 2002 is amended as follows— a in item 2 (disability element), in the second column for “£3,090” substitute “£3,165”; and b in item 6 (severe disability element), in the second column for “£1,330” substitute “£1,365”. Amendment of the Child Tax Credit Regulations 2002 3 Regulation 7 (determination of the maximum rate at which a person or persons may be entitled to child tax credit) of the Child Tax Credit Regulations 2002 is amended as follows— a in paragraph (5)(a), for “£3,275” substitute “£3,355”; and b in paragraph (5)(b), for “£4,600” substitute “£4,715”. Amendment of Schedule 4 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 4 In paragraph 5 of Part 3 of Schedule 4 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (weekly rate of guardian’s allowance) for “£17.20” substitute “£17.60”. Amendment of Schedule 4 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 5 In paragraph 5 of Part 3 of Schedule 4 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (weekly rate of guardian’s allowance) for “£17.20” substitute “£17.60”. Jeremy Quin Rebecca Harris Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury 13th February 2019 EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations amend the Working Tax Credit (Entitlement and Maximum Rate) Regulations 2002 ( S.I. 2002/2005 ); the Child Tax Credit Regulations 2002 ( S.I. 2002/2007 ); the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4) ; and the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7) . Regulation 2 increases the maximum rate of the disability and severe disability elements of working tax credit from £3,090 and £1,330 to £3,165 and £1,365 respectively. Regulation 3 increases the rate of the disability element of child tax credit from £3,275 to £3,355 for a disabled child or qualifying young person and from £4,600 to £4,715 for a severely disabled child or qualifying young person. Regulations 4 and 5 increase the weekly rate of guardian’s allowance from £17.20 to £17.60. A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.