These Regulations provide for payments (“household fuel payments”) to be made to qualifying persons under the Household Fuel Payments Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2009.

Regulation 1 makes provision for citation and commencement.

Regulation 2 provides that the Household Fuel Payments Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2009 is set out in the Schedule to the Regulations.

Schedule

Paragraph 1 makes provision for citation and interpretation. Paragraph 2 provides that to be eligible for a household fuel payment, a person must be a “qualifying person” i.e. a person who was in receipt of state pension credit (other than residents in nursing or residential care homes), or income support with housing benefit and/or housing loan, during the qualifying week beginning with (and including) Monday 15th December 2008 and ending with Sunday 21st December 2008.

Paragraph 2 also provides that, where a qualifying person is a member of a couple, the other member of the couple cannot be a qualifying person.

Paragraph 3 provides that a household fuel payment is a single payment of £150.

Paragraph 4 provides that persons who are eligible for a household fuel payment but do not receive it before 31st May 2009 may apply for the payment from the Department for Social Development by 30th June 2009. If the Department is satisfied that the applicant is a qualifying person, the Department shall make the household fuel payment.

Paragraph 5 provides that no account shall be taken of eligibility for a household fuel payment when considering a person’s entitlement to Social Fund payments and certain social security benefits.

Paragraph 6 provides that the Department may use social security information for the purpose of determining eligibility for a household fuel payment.

Paragraph 7 provides that the Department for Social Development shall make household fuel payments.

The Regulations apply to Northern Ireland only.

A regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for the Regulations as they have no impact on the costs of business.