(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
These Regulations revoke and replace, with a few minor changes, the Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Payment Expenses (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (“the 1987 Regulations”) and provisions amending those Regulations. They make provision under section 134(1)(a) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 for payments to be made out of the social fund to meet maternity expenses and funeral expenses (referred to in these Regulations as “Sure Start Maternity Grants” and “funeral payments” respectively).
In Part I, regulations 1 and 2 are formal and contain interpretation provisions. Regulation 3 revokes the 1987 Regulations and amending provisions. Regulation 4 provides that two payments shall not be made in respect of the same expenses.
Part II deals with maternity payments. Regulation 5 prescribes the circumstances in which such payments are to be made and the appropriate amount. Regulation 6 sets out the special rules on entitlement which apply to persons affected by a trade dispute.
Part III makes provision for funeral payments. Regulations 7 and 8 set out the circumstances in which funeral payments are to be made. Regulation 9 prescribes how the amount of a funeral payment is to be arrived at. Regulation 10 prescribes certain deductions from such a payment.
These regulations 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 Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.
A regulatory impact assessment had not been produced for this rule as it has no impact on the costs of business.