The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 1991

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order).

This order, which corresponds to an order (S.I. 1991/503) made by the Secretary of State for Social Security under section 63 of the Social Security Act 1986, increases the rates and amounts of certain social security benefits and other sums.

Part II relates to non means-tested benefits. Article 3 and Schedule 1 increase the rates of benefits and increases of benefit (except age addition) specified in Parts I, III, IV and V of Schedule 4 to the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975 (“the principal Act”). Article 4 increases the rates and amounts of certain benefits under Part III of Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 (“the Pensions Order”) (including increases of Category A or Category B retirement pension payable by reference to the increases of increments in guaranteed minimum pensions payable by virtue of Article 37(6) of that Order); Article 5 specifies the dates from which the sums specified for rates or amounts of benefit under the principal Act or the Pensions Order are increased. Article 6 increases the rate laid down in the Industrial Injuries and Diseases (Northern Ireland Old Cases) Act 1975 for the maximum weekly rate of lesser incapacity allowance supplementing workmen’s compensation. Article 7 increases the rate of graduated retirement benefit under the National Insurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1966.

Article 8 specifies the weekly rate of child benefit and one-patient benefit. Article 9 specifies the weekly rates of statutory sick pay. Article 10 increases the lower rate of statutory maternity pay and Article 11 specifies earnings limits for child dependency increases.

Part III of the order relates to family credit, income support and housing benefit. Article 12 sets out the applicable amount for family credit and other miscellaneous amounts. Article 13 and Schedule 2 specify the amount of the credits for an adult, child and young person which determines a family’s maximum family credit.

Article 14 states the amount of sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of income support. Article 14(3) and Schedule 3 set out the personal allowances; Article 14(5) and Schedule 4 set out the premiums; Article 14(8) and (9) and Schedule 5 set out the amounts relevant to the beneficiaries in homes for persons in need and nursing homes; Article 14(10) and (11) and Schedule 6 set out the amounts relevant to special cases; and Article 14(12) and Schedule 7 set out other miscellaneous amounts. Article 15 provides for the percentage increase of sums payable by way of special transitional additions to income support. Article 16 states the sum by which any income support of a person involved in a trade dispute is reduced. Article 17 increases various sums relevant to the calculation of housing benefit.

Article 18 revokes the Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 1987 (in so far as not previously revoked) and Articles 13 and 14 of, and Schedule 2 to the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 1989 and Articles 3 to 11 and 14 to 17 of, and Schedule 1 and 3 to 7 to, the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 1990.