The Welfare Supplementary Payment (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

Citation and commencement

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017.

(2) These Regulations come into operation on 6th February 2017.

Amendments to welfare supplementary payment regime

2.  These Regulations amend the welfare supplementary payment regime as follows—

(a) Part 2 makes provision for the recovery of overpayments of welfare supplementary payments,

(b) Part 3 makes amendments to welfare supplementary payments in respect of the benefit cap,

(c) Part 4 makes amendments to welfare supplementary payments in respect of contributory employment and support allowance,

(d) Part 5 makes amendments to welfare supplementary payments in respect of loss of disability-related premiums,

(e) Part 6 makes amendments to welfare supplementary payments in respect of loss of carer payments, and

(f) Part 7 makes amendments to welfare supplementary payments in respect of loss of disability living allowances.

Non-retrospective effect of provisions terminating or reducing welfare supplementary payment

3.  Where an amendment made by these Regulations would have the effect of terminating or reducing a welfare supplementary payment to which a person is entitled, that termination or reduction only has effect from the date on which the amendment comes into operation.

PART 2 RECOVERY OF OVERPAYMENT OF WELFARE SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS

Application of this Part

4.—(1) This Part applies where welfare supplementary payments are paid in excess of what a person is entitled to (in this Part “an overpayment”).

(2) In this Part “welfare supplementary payment” means—

(a) welfare supplementary payment under the Welfare Supplementary Payments Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(1),

(b) welfare supplementary payment under the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Carer Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(2),

(c) welfare supplementary payment under the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Disability-Related Premiums) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(3),

(d) welfare supplementary payment under the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Disability Living Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(4).

Interpretation of this Part

5.  In this Part—

“the 1998 Order” means the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998(5),

“the 2015 Order” means the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015,

“outstanding amount”, see regulation 7,

“overpayment” means welfare supplementary payment paid in excess of entitlement,

“relevant social security benefit” has the same meaning as in section 115CA of the Administration Act(6).

Circumstances in which overpayment may be recovered

6.—(1) The Department may recover an amount of overpayment in each of the following four cases.

(2) The first case is where—

(a) a person, whether fraudulently or otherwise, misrepresents or fails to disclose a material fact in connection with the person’s welfare supplementary payment or the person’s claim for a relevant social security benefit, and

(b) in consequence of that misrepresentation or failure, the person receives an overpayment.

(3) The second case is where—

(a) a person fails to provide notification of a change of circumstances affecting entitlement to welfare supplementary payment, or does so only after an unreasonable delay, and

(b) in consequence of that failure or delay, the person receives an overpayment.

(4) The third case is where—

(a) a mistake, whether in the form of an act or omission, is made in a person’s case by the Department or by an officer or a person providing services to the Department, and

(b) in consequence of that mistake, the person receives an overpayment.

(5) The fourth case is where—

(a) welfare supplementary payment is awarded in respect of a decision to reduce or remove entitlement to a relevant social security benefit,

(b) there is—

(i) a revision of this decision under Article 10 of the 1998 Order(7),

(ii) a supersession of this decision under Article 11 of the 1998 Order(8), or

(iii) an appeal against this decision under Article 13 of the 1998 Order(9),

(c) on revision, supersession or appeal, the person is awarded that relevant social security benefit or the amount of the relevant social security benefit that the person is entitled to increases, and

(d) in consequence, it transpires that the amount of welfare supplementary payment received was in excess of entitlement.

(6) The first and second case apply whether or not there has been a right of appeal under Article 13(4) of the 1998 Order in respect of any relevant social security benefit, entitlement to which is linked to the welfare supplementary payment.

Means of recovery

7.—(1) An amount recoverable may be recovered—

(a) by means of deduction from certain supplementary payments under regulation 9,

(b) in so far as the outstanding amount is not recovered under regulation 9, by means of deduction from benefits under regulation 10,

(c) in so far as the outstanding amount is not recovered under regulations 9 and 10, by means of deduction from earnings under regulation 11, and

(d) in so far as the outstanding amount is not recovered under regulations 9, 10 and 11, by means of action taken in court under regulation 12.

(2) In addition, where the Department may recover an overpayment by virtue of the fourth case in regulation 6, the amount recoverable may be recovered by means of deduction from back-dated payments awarded under regulation 13.

(3) In this Part “the outstanding amount” means, in relation to an amount recoverable, the amount which for the time being remains to be recovered.

Persons from whom overpayments may be recovered

8.—(1) This regulation applies where there has been an overpayment in respect of a person (A).

(2) If payment is made to A, the amount recoverable is only recoverable from A.

(3) If payment is made to a person appointed under regulation 33 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(10), then the amount recoverable is recoverable from—

(a) A, and

(b) the person appointed.

(4) If payment is made to a person that A has nominated under regulation 91(3) of the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(11), then the amount recoverable is recoverable from—

(a) A, and

(b) the person nominated.

(5) If payment is made to A’s landlord or A’s landlord’s agent, then the amount recoverable is only recoverable from the landlord or the landlord’s agent, as the case may be.

(6) In a case where payment is made to—

(a) a joint-claim couple under regulation 14 or 15 of the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Disability-Related Premiums) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016, or

(b) a joint claim: couples under regulation 28 of those Regulations,

the amount recoverable is recoverable from both members of that couple.

Deduction from certain supplementary payments

9.—(1) The Department may, in the case of a person from whom an amount is recoverable, recover the outstanding amount by making deductions from—

(a) such amounts of welfare supplementary payment as are still to be paid in that person’s case, and

(b) in so far as the outstanding amount is not recovered by using the method under sub-paragraph (a), such amounts of housing supplementary payment as are still to be paid in that person’s case.

(2) When acting under paragraph (1) in a case where the outstanding amount is less than the total of the amounts referred to in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) (as the case may be), the Department must continue to pay the amounts in question until that total is equal to the outstanding amount.

(3) In this regulation “housing supplementary payment” means a payment under Article 137A of the 2015 Order(12).

Deductions from benefits

10.—(1) The Department may, in the case of a person from whom an amount is recoverable, recover the outstanding amount (subject to regulation 7(1)(b)) by making deductions from such amounts as are payable by way of relevant benefit in that person’s case.

(2) Each of the benefits listed in Schedule 1 is a “relevant benefit”.

(3) In the case of a relevant benefit which is income-related, a deduction under this regulation may, for any week for which the benefit is payable in that person’s case, be made at the rate of not more than 3 times 5% of the relevant personal allowance (see paragraph (6)).

(4) In the case of a relevant benefit which is not income-related, a deduction under this regulation may, for any week for which the benefit is payable in that person’s case, be made at the rate of not more than one-third of the amount of the benefit that is applicable to that person.

(5) Each of the following relevant benefits is “income-related”—

(a) income support,

(b) income-based jobseeker’s allowance,

(c) contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance, in a case where if there were no entitlement to it there would be an entitlement to income-based jobseeker’s allowance,

(d) income-related employment and support allowance,

(e) contribution-related employment and support allowance, in a case where if there no entitlement to it there would be an entitlement to income-related employment and support allowance,

(f) state pension credit.

(6) “Relevant personal allowance” means the amount for the time being specified in paragraph 1(1)(e) of column (2) of Schedule 2 to the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987(13); and where 5% of that allowance is not a multiple of 5 pence, it is to be rounded up to the next higher multiple of 5 pence.

(7) A reference to contribution-based or income-based jobseeker’s allowance is to be construed in accordance with the Jobseekers Order(14).

(8) A reference to contribution-related or income-related employment support allowance is to be construed in accordance with Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007(15).

(9) A reference to state pension credit is to be construed in accordance with the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002(16).

(10) A reference to income support is to be construed in accordance with section 122 of the Contributions and Benefits Act(17).

Deduction from earnings

11.—(1) The Department may, in the case of a person from whom an amount is recoverable, recover the outstanding amount (subject to regulation 7(1)(c)) by means of deduction made by the person’s employer from the person’s earnings.

(2) Schedule 2 makes further provision for the purposes of this regulation.

Court action

12.—(1) The Department may, in the case of a person from whom an amount is recoverable, recover the outstanding amount (subject to regulation 7(1)(d)) by means of court action taken under this regulation.

(2) The outstanding amount is, if a county court so orders, recoverable as if it were payable under an order of the court.

(3) Any costs of the Department in recovering the outstanding amount under this regulation may be recovered by the Department as if those costs were themselves part of the outstanding amount.

Off-setting in the case of awards of benefit back-dated on appeal

13.—(1) This regulation applies where the Department may recover an overpayment by virtue of the fourth case in regulation 6.

(2) In addition to the means set out above, the Department may recover the outstanding amount by making deductions from that portion of the amount of relevant social security benefit awarded on the revision, supersession or appeal (as the case may be) which represents back-dated benefit to which the person was entitled.

PART 3 AMENDMENTS TO WELFARE SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS IN RESPECT OF THE BENEFIT CAP

Amendments to the Welfare Supplementary Payments Regulations

14.  The Welfare Supplementary Payments Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 are amended in accordance with this Part.

Amendment of the definition of welfare benefit

15.  In regulation 3(1), for the definition of “welfare benefit” substitute ““welfare benefit” has the same meaning as in Article 101(7) of the 2015 Order(18);”.

Timing of payments

16.  For regulation 4(7) substitute—

“(7) A welfare supplementary payment to which a person is entitled under this regulation must be paid—

(a) in a case where the person’s landlord is the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, every four weeks, or as soon as is reasonably practicable after that, in arrears,

(b) in any other case, every four weeks, at the time that housing benefit is paid to that person, in arrears.”.

Effective date of change in circumstances

17.  After regulation 4A(19) insert—

“Effective date of change of circumstances

4B.— (1) This regulation applies where, as a consequence of a change of circumstances as set out in regulation 4A(3), there is a change in the amount of welfare supplementary payment to which a person is entitled.

(2) The effective date of that change of circumstances, for the purpose of calculating the person’s entitlement to welfare supplementary payment, is the date on which the change in the person’s award of housing benefit takes effect.”.

Persons to whom welfare supplementary payments may be made

18.—(1) In regulation 4 omit paragraphs (8) and (9).

(2) After regulation 4B insert—

“Persons to whom welfare supplementary payments may be made

4C.— (1) A welfare supplementary payment to which a person (A) is entitled under this Part must be paid to A, but this is subject to the following.

(2) Payment may be made to A’s landlord if—

(a) A’s housing benefit is paid to the landlord, and

(b) the landlord is—

(i) registered under regulation 3 of the Landlord Registration Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014(20),

(ii) the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, or

(iii) a housing association.

(3) Payment may be made to A’s landlord’s agent if—

(a) A’s housing benefit is paid to the agent, and

(b) the landlord is registered under regulation 3 of the Landlord Registration Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014.

(4) Payment may be made to a person that A has nominated (other than A’s landlord, or A’s landlord’s agent) in accordance with regulation 91(3) of the Housing Benefit Regulations.”.

Termination of welfare supplementary payment if person ceases to be entitled to housing benefit

19.  After regulation 4C insert—

“Termination of welfare supplementary payment if person ceases to be entitled to housing benefit

4D.— (1) This regulation applies where a person ceases to be entitled to housing benefit.

(2) Welfare supplementary payment under this Part must cease to be paid from the day after the first payment of welfare supplementary payment following the date on which the person ceases to be entitled to housing benefit.

(3) Provided that—

(a) housing benefit only ceased before the date the new benefit cap is applied to the person, and

(b) housing benefit does not cease after this date,

this regulation does not prevent a person’s entitlement to welfare supplementary payment restarting if the person meets the eligibility conditions set out in regulation 4 on the date the new benefit cap is applied to the person.”.

Termination of welfare supplementary payment if person ceases to be affected by benefit cap

20.  After regulation 4D insert—

“Termination of welfare supplementary payment if person ceases to be affected by benefit cap

4E.— (1) This regulation applies where the housing benefit to which a person is entitled ceases to be reduced in accordance with regulation 73D of the Housing Benefit Regulations(21).

(2) Welfare supplementary payment under this Part must cease to be paid from the day after the first payment of welfare supplementary payment following the date on which the person’s housing benefit ceases to be reduced.”.

Entitlement to welfare supplementary payment where couple separates

21.  After regulation 4E insert—

“Entitlement to welfare supplementary payment where couple separates

4F.— (1) Paragraph (2) applies where—

(a) A and B were a couple,

(b) on or after 31 May 2016, A and B ceased to be a couple, and

(c) immediately before that, either the couple or A were entitled to a welfare supplementary payment under this Part.

(2) Where this paragraph applies, regulation 4(2)(a) is to be treated as being satisfied in respect of B on the date that A and B cease to be a couple.

(3) Paragraph (4) applies where—

(a) A and B were a couple,

(b) on or after 31 May 2016, A and B ceased to be a couple, and

(c) immediately before that, either the couple or A were entitled to a welfare benefit.

(4) Where this paragraph applies, then for the purposes of regulation 4(2)(a), B is to be treated as if B was entitled to that welfare benefit from the date that the couple or A were entitled to it.”.

Effect of sanctions

22.  After regulation 4F insert—

“Effect of sanctions

4G.   For the avoidance of doubt, where a person is subject to a benefit sanction (for example for failure to take part in a work-focused interview), the effect of the sanction is to be disregarded in calculating the amount of welfare supplementary payment payable.”.

Information sharing

23.  After regulation 4G insert—

“Information sharing

4H.— (1) The Northern Ireland Housing Executive may supply to the Department such information as the Department may require for the purposes of functions relating to the payment and administration of welfare supplementary payments.

(2) The Department may supply to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive such information relating to the payment of welfare supplementary payments as the Northern Ireland Housing Executive may require for the purposes of reconciling its accounts.

(3) Information supplied under this regulation must not be supplied by the recipient of the information to any other person or body without—

(a) the authority of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, in the case of information supplied under paragraph (1),

(b) the authority of the Department, in the case of information supplied under paragraph (2).

(4) Where information supplied under this regulation has been used for the purposes for which it was supplied, it is lawful for it to be used for any purposes for which information held for those purposes could reasonably be used.

(5) This regulation does not limit the circumstances in which information may be supplied apart from this regulation.”.

PART 4 AMENDMENTS TO WELFARE SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS IN RESPECT OF CONTRIBUTORY EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE

Amendments to the Welfare Supplementary Payments Regulations

24.  The Welfare Supplementary Payments Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 are amended in accordance with this Part.

Meaning of limited capability for work

25.  In regulation 7, for paragraph (4) substitute—

“(4) In paragraph (3) “limited capability for work credit” refers to a credit under regulation 8B(1) of the Social Security (Credits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975(22) where paragraph (2)(a)(iva) of that regulation applies and which follows the cessation of the entitlement to contributory employment and support allowance as a consequence of section 1A of the WRA 2007(23).”.

Effect of sanctions

26.  After regulation 8 insert—

“Effect of sanctions

8A.   For the avoidance of doubt, where a person is subject to a benefit sanction (for example for failure to take part in a work-focused interview), the effect of the sanction is to be disregarded in calculating the amount of welfare supplementary payment payable.”.

Effective date of change in circumstances

27.  After regulation 9 insert—

“Effective date of change of circumstances

9A.— (1) This regulation applies where, as a consequence of a change of circumstances as set out in regulation 9, there is a change in the amount of welfare supplementary payment to which a person is entitled (including a termination in entitlement to welfare supplementary payment).

(2) The effective date of that change of circumstances, for the purpose of calculating the person’s entitlement to welfare supplementary payment, is the date on which the change in the person’s award of income-related employment and support allowance or contributory employment and support allowance (as the case may be) takes effect.”.

Persons to whom welfare supplementary payments may be made

28.  After regulation 10 insert—

“Persons to whom welfare supplementary payments may be made

10A.— (1) A welfare supplementary payment to which a person is entitled under this Part must be paid to the person, but this is subject to paragraph (2).

(2) Payment may be made to a person appointed under regulation 33 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(24).”.

Information sharing

29.  After regulation 10A insert—

“Information sharing

10B.— (1) The Department may supply to the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs such information as they may require for the purposes of HMRC functions.

(2) Information supplied under this regulation must not be supplied by the recipient of the information to any other person or body without the authority of the Department.

(3) Where information supplied under this regulation has been used for the purposes for which it was supplied, it is lawful for it to be used for any purposes for which information held for those purposes could reasonably be used.

(4) This regulation does not limit the circumstances in which information may be supplied apart from this regulation.

(5) In this regulation “HMRC functions” means any function—

(a) for which the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs are responsible by virtue of section 5 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005(25), or

(b) which relates to a matter listed in Schedule 1 to that Act(26).”.

PART 5 AMENDMENTS TO WELFARE SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS IN RESPECT OF LOSS OF DISABILITY-RELATED PREMIUMS

Amendments to the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Disability-Related Premiums) Regulations

30.  The Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Disability-Related Premiums) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(27) are amended in accordance with this Part.

Definition of welfare benefit

31.  In regulation 2(1) insert in the appropriate place in alphabetical order—

““welfare benefit” has the same meaning as in Article 101(7) of the 2015 Order;”.

Entitlement to welfare supplementary payment where couple separates

32.  After regulation 38 insert—

“PART 6A WELFARE SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENT WHERE A COUPLE SEPARATES

Application of this Part

38A.— (1) This Part applies where—

(a) A and B were a couple,

(b) on or after 20 July 2016, A and B ceased to be a couple, and

(c) immediately before that, A was entitled to welfare supplementary payment under Parts 2 to 6.

(2) In this Part, the welfare supplementary payment to which A was entitled is referred to as “the old WSP”.

Disability premium

38B.— (1) This regulation applies where the old WSP was in respect of a disability premium.

(2) In this regulation, a disability premium means—

(a) disability premium under paragraph 11 of Schedule 2 to the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(28),

(b) disability premium under paragraph 13 of Schedule 1 to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(29), or

(c) disability premium under paragraph 20G of Schedule 1 to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(30).

(3) If both A and B met—

(a) the PIP refusal condition, and

(b) the loss of disability premium condition,

then A and B are each separately entitled to welfare supplementary payment (under the Part to which A was originally entitled to welfare supplementary payment) when they cease to be a couple.

(4) Where paragraph (3) applies, the amount of welfare supplementary payment payable to each A and B is equal to half the old WSP.

(5) If only one member of the couple (“the eligible member”) met—

(a) the PIP refusal condition, and

(b) the loss of disability premium condition,

then only the eligible member is entitled to welfare supplementary payment (under the Part to which A was originally entitled to welfare supplementary payment) when they cease to be a couple.

(6) Where paragraph (5) applies, then immediately after A and B cease to be a couple, the amount of welfare supplementary payment payable to the eligible member is equal to the old WSP.

(7) Where paragraph (5) applies, then when the eligible member makes an application for a welfare benefit as a single person, the amount of welfare supplementary payment payable to the eligible member is equal to the amount of disability premium which would have been payable to the eligible member on the transition date if the eligible member had not been a member of a couple on the date entitlement to the premium was lost.

(8) The PIP refusal condition is that following a transitional assessment determination, the person is refused personal independence payment, or the component of personal independence payment, that is a condition for entitlement to disability premium.

(9) The loss of disability premium condition is that, in consequence of the PIP refusal condition, the decision of the Department to award disability premium is superseded by a decision to not award disability premium.

Enhanced disability premium

38C.— (1) This regulation applies where the old WSP was in respect of an enhanced disability premium.

(2) In this regulation, an enhanced disability premium means—

(a) enhanced disability premium under paragraph 13A of Schedule 2 to the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(31),

(b) enhanced disability premium under paragraph 15A of Schedule 1 to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(32),

(c) enhanced disability premium under paragraph 20IA of Schedule 1 to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(33), or

(d) enhanced disability premium under paragraph 7 of Schedule 4 to the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008(34).

(3) If both A and B met—

(a) the PIP refusal condition, and

(b) the loss of enhanced disability premium condition,

then A and B are each separately entitled to welfare supplementary payment (under the Part to which A was originally entitled to welfare supplementary payment) when they cease to be a couple.

(4) Where paragraph (3) applies, the amount of welfare supplementary payment payable to each A and B is equal to half the old WSP.

(5) If one member of the couple (“the eligible member”) met—

(a) the PIP refusal condition, and

(b) the loss of enhanced disability premium condition,

then only the eligible member is entitled to welfare supplementary payment (under the Part to which A was originally entitled to welfare supplementary payment) when they cease to be a couple.

(6) Where paragraph (5) applies, then immediately after A and B cease to be a couple, the amount of welfare supplementary payment payable to the eligible member is equal to the old WSP.

(7) Where paragraph (5) applies, then when the eligible member makes an application for a welfare benefit as a single person, the amount of welfare supplementary payment payable to the eligible member is equal to the amount of enhanced disability premium which would have been payable to the eligible member on the transition date if the eligible member had not been a member of a couple on the date entitlement to the premium was lost.

(8) The PIP refusal condition is that following a transitional assessment determination, the person is refused personal independence payment, or the component of personal independence payment, that is a condition for entitlement to enhanced disability premium.

(9) The loss of enhanced disability premium condition is that, in consequence of the PIP refusal condition, the decision of the Department to award enhanced disability premium is superseded by a decision to not award enhanced disability premium.

Severe disability premium

38D.— (1) This regulation applies where the old WSP was in respect of a severe disability premium.

(2) In this regulation, a severe disability premium means—

(a) severe disability premium under paragraph 13 of Schedule 2 to the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(35),

(b) severe disability premium under paragraph 15 of Schedule 1 to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(36),

(c) severe disability premium under paragraph 20I of Schedule 1 to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(37),

(d) severe disability premium under paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 to the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008(38), or

(e) the additional amount (in respect of the appropriate minimum guarantee) prescribed under regulation 6(4) of the State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(39) for persons treated as severely disabled persons.

(3) A and B are each separately entitled to welfare supplementary payment (under the Part to which A was originally entitled to welfare supplementary payment), when they cease to be a couple, but this is subject to paragraphs (5) and (6).

(4) Where paragraph (3) applies, the amount of welfare supplementary payment payable to each A and B is half the old WSP.

(5) If a person becomes entitled to a severe disability premium in consequence of ceasing to be a member of a couple, then in accordance with regulations 10, 19, 26 or 38, that person must cease to be paid welfare supplementary payment.

(6) If A is entitled to welfare supplementary payment because B satisfies the blind condition, as set out in regulations 6(6), 13(6), 15(7), 22(6) or 34(6), as the case may be, then when A and B cease to be a couple, only A is entitled to welfare supplementary payment (under the Part to which A was originally entitled to welfare supplementary payment) when they cease to be a couple.

(7) Where paragraph (6) applies, the amount of welfare supplementary payment payable to A is equal to the old WSP.”.

No termination of welfare supplementary payment if conflict related welfare supplementary payment applies

33.  In regulation 39, after paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A) Paragraph (2) does not apply if the person becomes entitled to welfare supplementary payment under regulation 14 of the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Disability Living Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(40) consequent upon that appeal.”.

Persons to whom welfare supplementary payments may be made

34.  After regulation 44 insert—

“Persons to whom welfare supplementary payments may be made

44A.— (1) A welfare supplementary payment to which a person is entitled under these Regulations must be paid to the person, but this is subject to paragraph (2).

(2) Payment may be made to a person appointed under regulation 33 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(41).”.

Effect of sanctions

35.  After regulation 44A insert—

“Effect of sanctions

44B.   For the avoidance of doubt, where a person is subject to a benefit sanction (for example for failure to take part in a work-focused interview), the effect of the sanction is to be disregarded in calculating the amount of welfare supplementary payment payable.”.

Information sharing

36.  After regulation 44B insert—

“Information sharing

44C.— (1) The Department may supply to the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs such information as they may require for the purposes of HMRC functions.

(2) The Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs may supply to the Department such information as the Department may require for the purposes of functions relating to the payment and administration of welfare supplementary payments.

(3) Information supplied under this regulation must not be supplied by the recipient of the information to any other person or body without—

(a) the authority of the Department, in the case of information supplied under paragraph (1),

(b) the authority of the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, in the case of information supplied under paragraph (2).

(4) Where information supplied under this regulation has been used for the purposes for which it was supplied, it is lawful for it to be used for any purposes for which information held for those purposes could reasonably be used.

(5) This regulation does not limit the circumstances in which information may be supplied apart from this regulation.

(6) In this regulation “HMRC functions” means any function—

(a) for which the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs are responsible by virtue of section 5 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, or

(b) which relates to a matter listed in Schedule 1 to that Act.”.

PART 6 AMENDMENTS TO WELFARE SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS IN RESPECT OF LOSS OF CARER PAYMENTS

Amendments to the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Carer Payments) Regulations

37.  The Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Carer Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(42) are amended in accordance with this Part.

Definition of couple

38.  In regulation 2(1) insert in the appropriate place in alphabetical order—

“couple” has the same meaning as in Article 45 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015,”.

Priority where claimant potentially entitled under more than one Part

39.  After regulation 3(3) insert—

“(4) If a person satisfies the criteria for entitlement to welfare supplementary payment under both Part 2 and Part 3, then only entitlement under Part 3 is to be applied.

(5) If a person satisfies the criteria for entitlement to welfare supplementary payment under Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4, then only entitlement under Part 4 is to be applied.

(6) If a person satisfies the criteria for entitlement to welfare supplementary payment under Part 5 and any other Part, then only entitlement under Part 5 is to be applied.”.

Change in the amount of contributory benefit

40.  After regulation 5 insert—

“Change in the amount of contributory benefit

5A.— (1) This regulation applies if there is a change in the amount of contributory benefit (within the meaning of regulation 5) that a person is entitled to.

(2) The amount of welfare supplementary payment the person is entitled to must be recalculated in accordance with the provisions set out in regulation 5.

(3) The effective date of the change in the amount of contributory benefit, for the purposes of calculating the person’s entitlement to welfare supplementary payment, is the date on which the change in the person’s award of contributory benefit takes effect.”.

Date payments cease if caree ceases to receive welfare supplementary payment for loss of disability living allowance

41.  In regulation 20(2) after “cease to be paid from” insert “the day after”.

Termination of welfare supplementary payment if caree awarded daily living component of personal independence payment

42.  After regulation 21 insert—

“Termination of welfare supplementary payment if caree awarded daily living component of personal independence payment

21A.— (1) This regulation applies where the caree is awarded the daily living component of personal independence payment.

(2) Welfare supplementary payment must cease to be paid from the day after the first payment of welfare supplementary payment following the date on which the caree is awarded the daily living component of personal independence payment.”.

Couples: termination of welfare supplementary payment on death of carer

43.  After regulation 21A insert—

“Couples: termination of welfare supplementary payment on death of carer

21B.— (1) This regulation applies where—

(a) A and B are a couple,

(b) B is in receipt of welfare supplementary payment by virtue of A providing care for the caree, and

(c) A dies.

(2) Welfare supplementary payment must cease to be paid at the expiry of 8 weeks beginning with the Sunday following the death (or beginning with the date of the death if the death occurred on a Sunday).

(3) The period of payment must not exceed the time limit set out in—

(a) regulation 6(3),

(b) regulation 10(3),

(c) regulation 14(3), or

(d) regulation 18(3).”.

Time limits for termination of welfare payment on death of caree

44.  After regulation 22(2)(a) insert—

“(ab) regulation 10(3),”.

Persons to whom welfare supplementary payments may be made

45.  After regulation 22 insert—

“Persons to whom welfare supplementary payments may be made

22A.— (1) A welfare supplementary payment to which a person is entitled under these Regulations must be paid to the person, but this is subject to paragraph (2).

(2) Payment may be made to a person appointed under regulation 33 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987.”.

Effect of sanctions

46.  After regulation 22A insert—

“Effect of sanctions

22B.   For the avoidance of doubt, where a person is subject to a benefit sanction (for example for failure to take part in a work-focused interview), the effect of the sanction is to be disregarded in calculating the amount of welfare supplementary payment payable.”.

Change in the amount of welfare supplementary payment after person forms a couple

47.  After regulation 22B insert—

“Change in the amount of welfare supplementary payment after person forms a couple

22C.— (1) This regulation applies where a person (A) who is entitled to welfare supplementary payment under Part 2 or 4 forms a couple with another person (B).

(2) The amount of welfare supplementary payment to which A is entitled will change if case 1 or case 2 applies, otherwise it will not change solely as a consequence of A forming a couple with B.

(3) Case 1 applies if—

(a) at the time when A forms a couple with B, B is entitled to welfare supplementary payment under Part 3 or 5, and

(b) either A or B are or become entitled to an income-related benefit.

(4) Case 2 applies if B is or becomes entitled to an income-related benefit.

(5) Where case 1 or 2 applies, the amount of welfare supplementary payment to which A is entitled is reduced to the amount of welfare supplementary payment to which A would have been entitled under Part 3 if A had satisfied the conditions for payment on loss of carer premium on transition from disability living allowance to personal independence payment.

(6) In this regulation “income-related benefit” means—

(a) income-based jobseeker’s allowance under the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995(43),

(b) income-related employment and support allowance under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007(44),

(c) income support under section 122 of the Contributions and Benefits Act(45),

(d) state pension credit under the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002(46). ”.

Welfare supplementary payment (under Part 3 or 5) where a couple separates

48.  After regulation 22C insert—

“Welfare supplementary payment (under Part 3 or 5) where a couple separates

22D.— (1) This regulation applies where—

(a) A and B were a couple,

(b) on or after 20 July 2016, A and B ceased to be a couple, and

(c) immediately before that, A was entitled to welfare supplementary payment under regulation 8 or regulation 16.

(2) After they cease to be a couple, only the person by virtue of whom—

(a) the carer premium entitlement condition was satisfied under regulation 8, or

(b) the additional amount (carer) entitlement condition was satisfied under regulation 16,

as the case may be, is entitled to welfare supplementary payment (under the Part to which A was originally entitled to welfare supplementary payment).”.

Information sharing

49.  After regulation 22D insert—

“Information sharing

22E.— (1) The Department may supply to the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs such information as they may require for the purposes of HMRC functions.

(2) Information supplied under this regulation must not be supplied by the recipient of the information to any other person or body without the authority of the Department.

(3) Where information supplied under this regulation has been used for the purposes for which it was supplied, it is lawful for it to be used for any purposes for which information held for those purposes could reasonably be used.

(4) This regulation does not limit the circumstances in which information may be supplied apart from this regulation.

(5) In this regulation “HMRC functions” means any function—

(a) for which the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs are responsible by virtue of section 5 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005(47), or

(b) which relates to a matter listed in Schedule 1 to that Act(48).”.

Change of circumstances: residency, care home, hospital, prison

50.  After regulation 31 insert—

“Change of circumstances: residency, care home, hospital, prison

32.— (1) This regulation applies where there is a change of circumstances of a kind set out in regulations 25 to 30 which affects a person’s entitlement to welfare supplementary payment.

(2) Where it is reasonable to expect the person to do so, the person must inform the Department of this change of circumstances.

(3) For the purposes of calculating the person’s entitlement to welfare supplementary payment, the date to be used is the date on which the change of circumstances takes effect. ”.

PART 7 AMENDMENTS TO WELFARE SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS IN RESPECT OF LOSS OF DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE

Amendments to the Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Disability Living Allowance) Regulations

51.  The Welfare Supplementary Payment (Loss of Disability Living Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 are amended in accordance with this Part.

Effective date of change of circumstances

52.—(1) For regulation 7(2) substitute—

“(2) Welfare supplementary payment must cease to be paid from the date the decision to award personal independence payment takes effect.”.

(2) In regulation 12(2) for “from the day after the first payment of welfare supplementary payment following the decision to change personal independence payment.” substitute “from the date the decision to change personal independence payment takes effect.”.

(3) In regulation 20(2) for “from the day after the first payment of welfare supplementary payment following the decision to change personal independence payment.” substitute “from the date the decision to change personal independence payment takes effect.”.

Persons to whom welfare supplementary payments may be made

53.  After regulation 21 insert—

“Persons to whom welfare supplementary payments may be made

21A.— (1) A welfare supplementary payment to which a person is entitled under these Regulations must be paid to the person, but this is subject to paragraph (2).

(2) Payment may be made to a person appointed under regulation 33 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(49).”.

Change of circumstances: residency, care home, hospital, prison

54.  After regulation 29 insert—

“Change of circumstances: residency, care home, hospital, prison

30.— (1) This regulation applies where there is a change of circumstances of a kind set out in regulations 23 to 29 which affects a person’s entitlement to welfare supplementary payment.

(2) Where it is reasonable to expect the person to do so, the person must inform the Department of this change of circumstances.

(3) For the purposes of calculating the person’s entitlement to welfare supplementary payment, the date to be used is the date on which the change of circumstances takes effect. ”.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 23rd January 2017

(L.S.)

Tommy O’Reilly

A senior officer of the Department for Communities