The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 and come into operation on 16th January 2017.

(2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(1) shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

Amendment of the Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

2.—(1) The Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001(2) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) In regulation 1(2) (citation, commencement and interpretation) omit the definition of “registered housing association”.

(3) For regulation 2(1) (discretionary housing payments) substitute—

“2.— (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) and regulations 3 to 9, the Housing Executive may make payments by way of financial assistance (“discretionary housing payments”) to persons who are entitled to housing benefit, where—

(a) the appropriate maximum housing benefit has been determined in accordance with regulation 14D or restricted under regulation 15 of the Housing Benefit Regulations or, as the case may be, the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations, or

(b) the amount of housing benefit would have been greater but for the abolition of the family premium pursuant to regulation 3 of the Housing Benefit (Abolition of the Family Premium) Regulations, and the person is someone to whom the transitional provision in regulation 5 of those Regulations does not apply, or

(c) the amount of housing benefit has been reduced in accordance with regulation 73D of the Housing Benefit Regulations, and

a person appears to require further financial assistance (in addition to the benefit to which they are entitled) in order to meet housing costs.”.

Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

3.  In regulation 2(1) of the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(3) (interpretation) in the definition of “attendance allowance” omit paragraphs (c) and (d).

Amendment of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

4.  In regulation 2(1) of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(4) (interpretation) in the definition of “attendance allowance” omit paragraphs (c) and (d).

Amendment of the Social Security (Lone Parents and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

5.  In the Schedule to the Social Security (Lone Parent and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(5) (special commencement provisions for certain existing claimants)—

(a) in the heading above paragraph 5 for “17th April 2017” substitute “16th April 2017”;

(b) in paragraph 5 for “17th April 2017” in each place where it occurs substitute “16th April 2017”.

Amendment of the Personal Independence Payment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

6.  In regulation 2(1) of the Personal Independence Payment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (interpretation)(6) in the definition of “medical treatment” omit the words “, and references to a person receiving or submitting to medical treatment are to be construed accordingly”.

Amendment of the Housing Benefit (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

7.  In regulation 1(3) of the Housing Benefit (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(7) for “23rd January 2017” substitute “20th February 2017”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Damian Hinds

Minister of State,

Department for Work and Pensions

15th December 2016