The Income-Related Benefits (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Disability Working Allowance (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992, the Family Credit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 and the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 so that the maximum deduction for relevant child care charges in respect of a claimant’s family shall be £60 per week where charges are paid, in respect of one child only or £100 per week where charges are paid for more than one child.

The provisions relevant to child care charges in respect of a child shall have effect until the day before the first Tuesday in September following the child’s 12th birthday in the case of disability working allowance or family credit, or until the day before the first Monday in September following the child’s 12th birthday in the case of housing benefit.

In so far as these Regulations are required, for the purposes of regulation 2(1), (2)(c), (3), (4) and (5)(c), to be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee under section 149(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), (“the 1992 Act”), and after agreement by the Social Security Advisory Committee, they have not been so referred by virtue of section 150(1)(b) of that Act. Otherwise they make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Social Security in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the 1992 Act, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.