Legislation round-up

Amends the Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Order 1998 (SI 1998/562) which provides for subsidy to be payable to local authorities administering housing benefit and council tax benefit. The Order takes effect retrospectively, and enables final payments of subsidy to be paid after the Order is made. Local authorities have a statutory duty to administer and pay claims for both housing benefit and council tax benefit. Subsidy is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to reimburse them for both the actual benefit that they pay, and towards the administration costs involved in processing and maintaining claims.