The Healthy Start Scheme and Day Care Food Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Healthy Start Scheme and Day Care Food Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006 No. 478) (“the principal Regulations”) which establish a scheme to improve nutrition in pregnant women, mothers and young children by providing vouchers for certain basic foods and vitamins.

Regulation 3 amends regulation 4 of the principal Regulations to introduce the following new categories of claimant:

• a pregnant woman who is aged 18 or over and entitled to state pension credit;

• a pregnant woman who is aged 18 or over and is a member of a couple where the other member of that couple is entitled to state pension credit;

• a pregnant woman who is aged 18 or over and is the responsibility of a person who is entitled to state pension credit which includes the additional amount that those who have responsibility for a child or a qualifying young person may be entitled to as part of their state pension credit award (“the additional amount for a child or qualifying young person”);

• a mother who is aged 16 and over and has a child under the age of 1 and who is entitled to state pension credit which includes the additional amount for a child or qualifying young person;

• a mother who is aged 16 and over and has a child under the age of 1 and who is a member of a couple where the other member of that couple is entitled to state pension credit which includes the additional amount for a child or qualifying young person;

• a mother who is aged 16 and over and has a child under the age of 1 and who is the responsibility of a person who is entitled to state pension credit which includes the additional amount for a child or qualifying young person;

• a child who is under the age of 4 who is the responsibility of a person who is entitled to state pension credit which includes the additional amount for a child or qualifying young person;

• a child who is under the age of 4 for whom a relevant child (defined to include a child who is the responsibility of a person who is entitled to state pension credit which includes the additional amount for a child or qualifying young person) has parental responsibility.

Regulation 4 amends the provisions on making a claim for benefit in respect of the categories of claimant being introduced by these Regulations.

Regulation 5 provides further clarification on the information needed for an application for benefit and also provides for the inclusion of a signed declaration in a claim for benefit under the principal Regulations by the categories of claimant being introduced by these Regulations.

An impact assessment has not been prepared for this statutory rule as no impact on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.