The Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

The Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 are made by virtue of section 60(1) to (4) of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (“the 2000 Act”).

Regulation 1 makes general provision relating to citation, commencement and interpretation.

Regulation 2 provides the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (“the Executive”) with a power to make discretionary payments by way of financial assistance (“discretionary housing payments”).

Regulation 3 provides the circumstances in which discretionary housing payments may be made.

Regulation 4 provides a limit on the amount of discretionary housing payments that may be made.

Regulation 5 provides the Executive with discretion as to the period for, or in which, discretionary housing payments may be made.

Regulation 6 makes provision as to the form, manner and procedure for claims.

Regulation 7 provides for the provision of information by persons claiming or receiving discretionary housing payments.

Regulation 8 provides the Executive with discretion to review any decision it has made in respect of discretionary housing payments.

Regulation 9 provides that the total amount paid by way of discretionary housing payments by the Executive shall not exceed the amount allocated to it by the Department for Social Development.

The enabling provisions in the 2000 Act, under which these Regulations are made, were brought into operation, for the purpose only of authorising the making of Regulations, on 22nd November 2000 by virtue of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security (Act) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000 (S.R. 2000 No. 358 (C. 16)). As these Regulations are made by virtue of, or are consequential upon, provisions of the 2000 Act and are made before the end of the period of 6 months from the commencement of those provisions, they are, accordingly, exempt, by virtue of section 150(5)(b) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, from prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

These Regulations do not impose any charge on business.