1 Citation, commencement and interpretation
1 These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 and shall come into operation on 7th April 1997.
2 In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—
“the Administration Act” means the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992;
“the Up-rating Order” means the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 1997.
S.R. 1997 No. 113

2 Exceptions relating to payment of additional benefit under awards made before the commencing date
Section 135(3) of the Administration Act (effect of alteration of rates of benefit under Parts II to V of the Contributions and Benefits Act) shall not apply if a question arises as to either—
(a) the weekly rate at which the benefit is payable by virtue of the Up-rating Order; or
(b) whether the conditions for the receipt of the benefit at the altered rate are satisfied,
until that question has been determined in accordance with the provisions of the Administration Act.

3 Persons not ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland
Regulation 5 of the Social Security Benefit (Persons Abroad) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1978 (application of disqualification in respect of up-rating of benefit) shall apply to any additional benefit payable by virtue of the Up-rating Order.
S.R. 1978 No. 114; relevant amending regulations are S.R. 1979 No. 392, S.R. 1988 No. 77, S.R. 1989 No. 373, S.R. 1990 No. 123, S.R. 1992 No. 330 and S.R. 1994 No. 269

4 Amendment of the Social Security Benefit (Dependency) Regulations
In paragraph 2B of Schedule 2 to the Social Security Benefit (Dependency) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1977 (prescribed circumstances for increase of an invalid care allowance) for “£130” in both places where it occurs there shall be substituted “£135”.
S.R. 1977 No. 74; relevant amending regulations are S.R. 1984 No. 382 and S.R. 1996 No. 74

5 Amendment of the Social Security (General Benefit) Regulations
In regulation 14 of the Social Security (General Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984 (earnings level for the purpose of unemployability supplement) for “£2,366·00” there shall be substituted “£2,418·00”.
S.R. 1984 No. 92; relevant amending regulations are S.R. 1996 No. 74

6 Amendment of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Regulations
In regulation 7 of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 (limit of earnings from councillor’s allowance) for “£45·50” there shall be substituted “£46·50”.
S.R. 1994 No. 461; relevant amending regulations are S.R. 1996 No. 74

7 Revocations
Regulations 2 to 4(a) and 5 to 7 of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 are hereby revoked.
S.R. 1996 No. 74
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland on
John O'Neill Assistant Secretary 4th March 1997.