Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996, the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and the Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (“the amended Regulations”).

These Regulations make further consequential amendments to the amended regulations in connection with the introduction of child tax credit and working tax credit by the Tax Credits Act 2002.

They also correct, within the principal Regulations relating to income support, housing benefit and jobseeker’s allowance, erroneous references relating to tax credits.

In so far as these Regulations are required, for the purposes of regulations 2(4), 3 and 4(3) 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 Work and Pensions 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 a charge on business.