The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Prisoners) Amendment Regulations 2020

Statutory Instruments

2020 No. 1156

Social Security

The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Prisoners) Amendment Regulations 2020

Made

21st October 2020

Laid before Parliament

22nd October 2020

Coming into force

12th November 2020

The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 123(1)(a) and (d), 124, 130, 135(1), 137(1) and (2)(h) and (l), 175(1), (3) and (4) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992(1), sections 4(5) and (12), 6(4), 7(4), 35 and 36(2) and (4) of, and paragraph 12 of Schedule 1 to, the Jobseekers Act 1995(2), sections 2(3), (4), (6) and (9), 3(8) and 17(1) and (2)(a) of the State Pension Credit Act 2002(3), sections 4(2) and (3), 24(1) and 25(2), (3) and (5) of, and paragraph 6(8) of Schedule 1 to, the Welfare Reform Act 2007(4) and sections 2(2), 6(1), 8(1), 40, 42(1) to (3) of, and paragraph 5(1) of Schedule 1 to, the Welfare Reform Act 2012(5).

In accordance with section 173(1)(b) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992(6), the Social Security Advisory Committee has agreed that the proposals in respect of these Regulations should not be referred to it.

In accordance with section 176(2)(a) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 it appears to the Secretary of State that by reason of the urgency of this matter it is inexpedient to consult with representative bodies.

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Prisoners) Amendment Regulations 2020 and come into force on 12th November 2020.

Amendment of the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Prisoners) Regulations

2.  In regulation 6(2) of the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Prisoners) Regulations 2020(7) for “eight months” substitute “14 months”.

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

Will Quince

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department for Work and Pensions

21st October 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Prisoners) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/409) in response to the continuing outbreak of coronavirus in Great Britain.

Those Regulations made provision to enable individuals on temporary release from prison due to the outbreak of coronavirus in Great Britain to access means tested benefits during the period of that release.

Upon the Secretary of State having reviewed the operation of the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Prisoners) Regulations 2020, regulation 2 amends the provision by which those Regulations expire after eight months so that they now expire at the end of the period of 14 months beginning on 13th March 2020.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, public or voluntary sectors is foreseen.

(1)

1992 c.4. Section 137(1) is cited for the meaning of “prescribed”. Section 175 is applied to provisions of the State Pension Credit Act 2002 by section 19(1) of the Act.

(2)

1995 c.18. Section 6 is substituted by the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c.5). Section 35 is cited for the meaning of “prescribed” and “regulations”.

(3)

2002 c.16. Section 17(1) is cited for the meaning of “prescribed” and “regulations”.

(4)

2007 c.5. Section 4 and paragraph 6(8) of Schedule 12 were repealed for certain purposes by the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c.5). Section 24(1) is cited for the meaning of “prescribed” and “regulations”.

(5)

2012 c.5. Section 40 is cited for the meaning of “prescribed”.

(6)

1992 c.5.

(7)

S.I. 2020/409.