The Social Security (Adjudication) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995

SECTION B — INCOME SUPPORT

Notification of decisions in income support cases

55.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), the decision of an adjudication officer on any claim or question relating to income support shall be notified in writing to the claimant who shall at the same time be notified of his right to request a statement of the reasons for that decision and of his right to appeal to an appeal tribunal.

(2) Where, under arrangements made by the Department, income support is payable together with another benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act, notice of the aggregate amount so payable shall be notice for the purpose of paragraph (1).

(3) Written notice shall not be required of a determination awarding income support which is implemented by a cash payment where in all the circumstances it would be impracticable to give such a notice.

(4) Written notice shall not be required of a determination terminating entitlement to income support where the reason for the termination is already known to the claimant or it is otherwise reasonable in the circumstances not to give such notice.

(5) In so far as may be practicable, and subject to paragraph (6), where a claimant is notified of a decision under paragraph (1) or (2) the Department shall also give or send him a written notice of assessment showing—

(a) the total amounts of the personal allowances, family premium, other premiums and housing costs determined under Part IV of the Income Support Regulations as are appropriate in his case;

(b) the income taken into account; and

(c) any personal expenses addition, special transitional addition and transitional addition payable under the Income Support (Transitional) Regulations.

(6) Paragraph (5) shall not apply to any determination—

(a) that income support is not payable for any reason other than that the claimant’s income exceeds the applicable amount;

(b) made on review under regulation 63, either under paragraph (2) of that regulation or where in other cases under that regulation the Department considers a written notice of assessment unnecessary;

(c) in respect of a claimant to whom section 126 of the Contributions and Benefits Act applies.

(7) Where, within the time limited by regulation 3 and Schedule 2 for the bringing of an appeal against an adjudication officer’s decision, the claimant requests a statement of the reasons for that decision he shall be given such a statement in writing and shall again be informed of his right of appeal.

Income support and social fund questions not immediately determinable

56.—(1) Where, on consideration of a claim or question relating to income support or to payment of maternity expenses from the social fund under Part VIII of the Contributions and Benefits Act, it appears to an adjudication officer that the claimant’s entitlement to, or the rate or amount of, such benefit depends on the determination of—

(a) the question as to what housing costs are to be included in the claimant’s applicable amount by virtue of regulation 17(1)(e) or 18(1)(f) of, and Schedule 3 to, the Income Support Regulations(1) (applicable amounts) and the adjudication officer is satisfied that not all of those housing costs can be immediately determined, he shall proceed to determine the claim or question on the assumption that the housing costs to be included in the claimant’s applicable amount are those that can be immediately determined;

(b) any of the questions mentioned in paragraph (3) and the adjudication officer is satisfied that the question cannot be immediately determined, he shall proceed to determine the claim or question on the assumption that the determination of the question so mentioned will be adverse to the claimant.

(2) Without prejudice to the power of an adjudication officer to refer any claim or question to an appeal tribunal under section 19(2) of the Administration Act, and notwithstanding the provisions of section 20 of that Act, on an appeal to an appeal tribunal in any case where the adjudication officer has applied the provisions of paragraph (1) in relation to any of the questions mentioned or referred to in that paragraph, the tribunal shall not determine any such question until it has been determined by an adjudication officer.

(3) The questions referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) are—

(a) whether in relation to any person the applicable amount falls to be reduced or disregarded to any extent by virtue of section 125(3) of the Contributions and Benefits Act;

(b) whether by virtue of regulation 9(1) of the Income Support Regulations a person is to be treated as available for employment and whether by virtue of regulation 10(1)(b), (d) or (g) of those regulations(2) he is not to be so treated;

(c) whether for the purposes of regulation 10(1)(a) of the Income Support Regulations after a situation in any employment has been properly notified to a claimant as vacant or about to become vacant he has without good cause refused or failed to apply for that situation or refused to accept that situation when offered to him;

(d) whether regulation 10A of the Income Support Regulations(3) applies by virtue of paragraph (3) or (4) of that regulation;

(e) whether for the purposes of regulation 12 of the Income Support Regulations(4) a person is by virtue of that regulation to be treated as receiving relevant education;

(f) whether in relation to any claimant the applicable amount includes severe disability premium by virtue of regulation 17(1)(d) or 18(1)(e) of, and paragraph 13 of Schedule 2 to, the Income Support Regulations(5); and

(g) whether regulation 22 of the Income Support Regulations(6) applies to a person by virtue of paragraph (4)(c)(iii) of that regulation and, if so, the period of its application by virtue of paragraph (6)(c) of that regulation.

(1)

Relevant amending provisions are S.R. 1988 Nos. 146, 193, 274, 318 and 431, S.R. 1989 Nos. 139, 249 and 395, S.R. 1990 Nos. 131, 346 and 387, S.R. 1991 No. 474, S.R. 1992 Nos. 6, 85, 147 and 403, S.R. 1993 Nos. 28, 120, 149, 195, 218, 233, 311, 373 and 479, S.R. 1994 Nos.77 and 138 and S.R. 1995 Nos. 71, 86, 101 and 162

(2)

Regulation 10(1)(d) was amended by regulation 5(a) of S.R. 1989 No. 365

(3)

Regulation 10A was inserted by regulation 6 of S.R. 1989 No. 365 and amended by regulation 2 of S.R. 1992 No. 471

(4)

Relevant amending regulations are S.R. 1990 No. 131, S.R. 1992 No. 403 and S.R. 1993 No. 373

(5)

Paragraph 13 of Schedule 2 was amended by regulation 30(d) of S.R. 1988 No. 146, regulation 6(f) of S.R. 1989 No. 395, regulation 10(4)(c) of S.R. 1992 No. 6, regulation 3(2) of S.R. 1993 No. 218 and regulation 2(9)(b) of S.R. 1994 No. 327

(6)

Relevant amending regulations are S.R. 1988 No. 146, S.R. 1989 Nos. 139, 249 and 365, S.R. 1990 No. 131, S.R. 1991 No. 46 and S.R. 1993 No. 149