EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 and the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 so as to disregard in the calculation of income the increase in child benefit which takes effect on 5th January 2009. The Regulations cease to have effect at the beginning of April 2009, by which time it is anticipated that personal allowances will be increased by the annual up-rating order.
In the case of income support and jobseeker’s allowance, the Regulations apply only to claimants who do not receive a child tax credit. (For those who do, child benefit is already fully disregarded.)
In so far as these Regulations are required, for the purposes of regulation 4, to be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee under section 149(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, 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, that Act, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.