(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
The Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 provides for a reformed scheme to enable the Department to recover amounts equal to certain social security benefits from persons making compensation payments to or in respect of persons who have suffered an accident, injury or disease.
These Regulations make provision as to the manner in which, and the time within which, an appeal against a certificate of recoverable benefits may be made and the procedure to be followed where such an appeal is made. They also make provision for the application to the chairman of a medical appeal tribunal for leave to appeal to a Social Security Commissioner.
Articles 13(5) and 14(6), some of the enabling provisions under which these Regulations are made, were brought into operation, for the purpose only of authorising the making of regulations on 5th September 1997 and for all other purposes on 6th October 1997, by virtue of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) (1997 Order) (Commencement) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997 (S.R. 1997 No. 400 (C. 24)). Since the Regulations are made before the end of the period of 6 months from the commencement of the provisions under which they are made, they are, accordingly, exempt, by virtue of section 150(5)(b) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, from reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.