3.—(1) The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(1) shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (5).
(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation)—
(a)after the definition of “the Children Order” insert—
““the Electronic Communications Act” means the Electronic Communications Act (Northern Ireland) 2001;”; and
(b)after the definition of “the Eileen Trust” insert—
““electronic communication” has the same meaning as in section 4(1) of the Electronic Communications Act;”.
(3) After regulation 62 (time and manner in which claims are to be made) insert—
62A. A claim for housing benefit may be made by means of an electronic communication in accordance with Schedule 10.”.
(4) After regulation 65 (duty to notify change of circumstances) insert—
65A. A person may give notice of a change of circumstances required to be notified under regulation 65 by means of an electronic communication in accordance with Schedule 10.”.
(5) After Schedule 9 (matters to be included in decision notice) add as Schedule 10 the Schedule set out in the Schedule to this Order.