The Social Security (Notification of Changes of Circumstances) Regulations 2010

Amendment of the Social Security (Notification of Change of Circumstances) Regulations 2001

4.—(1) The Social Security (Notification of Change of Circumstances) Regulations 2001(1) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 3(2) (change affecting jobseeker’s allowance)—

(a) at the beginning of paragraph (1) insert “Subject to paragraph (1A),”;

(b) after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) In such cases and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may specify, notice may be given to the Secretary of State—

(a) where the change of circumstances is a birth or death, through a relevant authority, or a county council in England, by personal attendance at an office specified by that authority or county council, provided the Secretary of State has agreed with that authority or county council for it to facilitate such notification;

(b) where the change of circumstances is a death, by telephone to a telephone number specified for that purpose by the Secretary of State.”;

(c) in paragraph (2) for “this regulation” substitute “paragraph (1)”; and

(d) after paragraph (2) insert—

“(3) In paragraph (1A) “relevant authority” has the same meaning as in regulation 4(2).”.

(3) In regulation 4(3) (change affecting housing benefit or council tax benefit)—

(a) at the beginning of paragraph (1) insert “Subject to paragraph (1A),”;

(b) after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) In such cases and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may specify, notice may be given to the Secretary of State—

(a) where the change of circumstances is a birth or death, through a relevant authority, or a county council in England, by personal attendance at an office specified by that authority or county council, provided the Secretary of State has agreed with that authority or county council for it to facilitate such notification; or

(b) where the change of circumstances is a death, by telephone to a telephone number specified for that purpose by the Secretary of State.

(1B) Paragraph (1A) only applies if the authority administering the claimant’s housing benefit or council tax benefit agrees with the Secretary of State that notifications may be made in accordance with that paragraph.”; and

(c) in paragraph (2) after “In this regulation” insert ““claimant”,”.

(4) In regulation 5(4) (change affecting other benefit payment or advantage)—

(a) at the beginning of paragraph (1) insert “Subject to paragraph (1ZZA),”;

(b) after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1ZZA) In such cases and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may specify, notice may be given to the Secretary of State—

(a) where the change of circumstances is a birth or death, through a relevant authority, or a county council in England, by personal attendance at an office specified by that authority or county council, provided the Secretary of State has agreed with that authority or county council for it to facilitate such notification; or

(b) where the change of circumstances is a death, by telephone to a telephone number specified for that purpose by the Secretary of State.”; and

(c) for paragraph (2) substitute—

“(2) In this regulation—

• “the appropriate office” has the same meaning as in the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987;

• “relevant authority” has the same meaning as in regulation 4(2).”.

(1)

S.I. 2001/3252.

(2)

Regulation 3 was amended by S.I. 2006/832.

(3)

Regulation 4 was amended by S.I. 2006/217.

(4)

The relevant amending instruments is S.I. 2003/3209.