11.—(1) Discretionary support may be awarded in the form of a loan as follows—
(a)by the provision of immediate assistance with short term living expenses;
(b)by the provision of household items, or assistance with the repair or replacement of household items that have been stolen, broken or destroyed;
(c)by the provision of travelling expenses, to the claimant or one or more members of their immediate family, or an escort, including any reasonable charges for overnight accommodation in order to–
(i)visit a close relative who is ill;
(ii)attend a close relative's funeral;
(iii)ease a domestic crisis;
(iv)visit a child who is with the other parent pending a family court decision;
(v)move to suitable accommodation; or
(d)by providing rent in advance to a landlord other than the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
(2) A loan shall not be awarded for any of the items and services specified in Schedule 1.
(3) Where paragraph (1)(a) applies short term living expenses shall be limited to those expenses deemed, by a discretionary support officer, as necessary to support a basic standard of living.
(4) Any award to which paragraphs (1)(c), (3), or (5) applies shall not in any case exceed the difference between any sum already repayable by the claimant and the claimant's partner and an assessment of their ability to repay and a level of debt for the time being acceptable to the Department.
(5) Where paragraph (1)(d) applies the amount of rent to be provided shall not exceed a sum calculated in accordance with paragraph (4)(1) of Schedule 2 of the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 M1.
(6) In this regulation “escort” means a person, who is not an immediate family member, who is permitted to accompany an individual.
Marginal Citations
M1S.R. 2006 No. 405