These Regulations further amend the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 and the Social Fund (Maternity and Funeral Expenses) (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987.

Regulation 2 provides that ex-gratia payments made by the Secretary of State to members of the families of the disappeared, shall be disregarded as capital when ascertaining the entitlement to those benefits, but only for 52 weeks from the date of receipt of those payments.

Regulation 3 provides that any such payment shall be disregarded for the purpose of any deduction to be made from a social fund funeral payment.

These Regulations do not impose any charge on business.