The Social Fund (Maternity and Funeral Expenses) (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Social Fund (Maternity and Funeral Expenses) (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (“the principal Regulations”).

Regulation 3 imposes a new condition for entitlement to a payment to meet maternity expenses. The new condition is that the claimant or claimant’s partner has received advice on health and welfare matters relating to the child, and where the claim is made before the child is born, the mother has received advice on maternal health. The amount of a maternity payment is to increase by £100 to £200.

Regulation 4 amends regulations 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 of the principal Regulations to provide that a payment to meet maternity expenses is to be known as a Sure Start Maternity Grant.

Regulation 5 makes transitional provisions.

These Regulations 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 Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.