The Social Security Benefits (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend paragraph 6 of Schedule 8A to the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (S.R. 1987 No. 465) (“the 1987 Regulations”) and paragraph 8 of Schedule 5 to the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016 No. 220) (“the 2016 Regulations”). These paragraphs contain provisions under which the Department for Communities may make deductions from benefit in respect of arrears for fuel costs and ongoing consumption of fuel to pay the fuel supplier directly.

Under regulation 1, these Regulations apply in relation to an application, made on or after the date on which these Regulations come into operation, for a deduction for fuel costs, or for a supersession of a deduction for fuel costs that is in place on the date these Regulations come into operation, and to any decision made on such an application.

Regulations 2 and 3 make amendments to paragraph 6 of Schedule 8A to the 1987 Regulations and paragraph 8 of Schedule 5 to the 2016 Regulations so that a new deduction for ongoing consumption of fuel, or an application for an increase to a deduction for ongoing consumption, may only be made following an application by the fuel supplier and with the claimant’s consent. Fuel suppliers may still apply for a deduction for arrears of fuel costs only without the claimant’s consent.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for these Regulations as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.