The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 and the Social Fund (Maternity and Funeral Expenses) (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987.

In particular, they—

• update the legislative references in the definition of “attendance allowance” applying in housing benefit (regulation 2(2));

• amend the references in the rules relating to the treatment of childcare charges in housing benefit (regulation 2(3));

• allow a training grant paid under the New Deal 50 Plus Employment Credit Scheme to be disregarded as capital in housing benefit (regulation 2(4));

• amend the references relating to the notional income rule in income support (regulation 3(2));

• correct an error relating to the period in respect of which certain groups may have access to urgent case payments in income support (regulation 3(3));

• allow employment credits to be disregarded, if paid to a lone parent whilst she is entitled to income support during a run-on period (regulation 3(4));

• allow a bereavement payment to be disregarded for the purpose of ascertaining entitlement to Sure Start Maternity Grants and funeral payments (regulation 4);

• change the commencement date of the Social Security (Enhanced Disability Premium Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 in relation to Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance to take into account benefit weeks (regulation 5).

In so far as these Regulations are required, for the purposes of regulation 2, to be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee under section 149(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, (“the 1992 Act”), after agreement by the Social Security Advisory Committee, they have not been so referred by virtue of section 150(1)(b) of that Act. Otherwise they make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Social Security in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the 1992 Act, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

These Regulations do not impose any charge on business.