Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007

Treatment of existing awards

7.—(1) Regulations may—

(a) make provision for converting existing awards into awards of an employment and support allowance, and with respect to the terms of conversion;

(b) make provision for the termination of existing awards in prescribed circumstances.

(2) Regulations under sub-paragraph (1)(a) may, in particular—

(a) make provision for conversion of an existing award—

(i) on application, in accordance with the regulations, by the person entitled to the award, or

(ii) without application;

(b) make provision about the conditions to be satisfied in relation to an application for conversion;

(c) make provision about the timing of conversion;

(d) provide for an existing award to have effect after conversion as an award of an employment and support allowance—

(i) of such a kind,

(ii) for such period,

(iii) of such an amount, and

(iv) subject to such conditions,

as the regulations may provide;

(e) make provision for determining in connection with conversion of an existing award whether a person has limited capability for work-related activity.

(3) Regulations under sub-paragraph (1)(a) may, in relation to existing awards which have been the subject of conversion under this paragraph, include provision about revision under Article 10 of the 1998 Order, or supersession under Article 11 of that Order in respect of the period before conversion.