The Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Regulations 1997

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 provides for a reformed scheme for the Secretary of State to recover amounts equal to certain social security benefits from persons making compensation payments to or in respect of persons who have suffered an accident, injury or disease.

These Regulations make provision in connection with that scheme as follows:

(a) specified payments are exempted from being compensation payments under the Act (regulation 2);

(b) information requirements (regulations 3 to 6);

(c) applications for certificates of recoverable benefits (regulation 7);

(d) the application of the scheme to payments into court (regulation 8), multiple compensation payments (regulation 9), and structured settlements (regulation 10);

(e) adjustment following reviews and appeals (regulation 11);

(f) transitional provisions (regulation 12).

The total costs to business of reform of the scheme are estimated to be between £54 million and £79 million. These costs were identified by means of a Compliance Cost Assessment (CCA) published in January 1996. Copies of the CCA are available from the Department of Social Security, Branch IMB3, 6th Floor, Adelphi, 1–11 John Adam Street, London WC2 6HT.