3.—(1) The following paragraph is added after section 5(1)(s) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(1)—
“(t)for treating any payment on account made by virtue of paragraph (s) above as made on account of any benefit to which this section applies that is subsequently awarded or paid.”.
(2) The following definition is inserted after the definition of “child” in section 133(1) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(2)—
““dwelling” means any residential accommodation, whether or not consisting of the whole or part of a building and whether or not comprising separate and self-contained premises;”.
(3) The following subsection is inserted after section 171(6) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992—
“(6A) Regulations under Part VII of this Act relating to housing benefit administered by the Department of the Environment under section 126(3)(b) of the Administration Act shall not be made without the consent of that Department.”.
(4) The amendments made by this Article shall be deemed always to have had effect.