The Social Security (Electronic Communications) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (“the Claims and Payments Regulations”), the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (“the Jobseekers Order”), the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (“the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations”), the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (“the Decisions and Appeals Regulations”) and the Social Security (Notification of Change of Circumstances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (“the Notification of Change of Circumstances Regulations”) so as to facilitate the use of electronic communications and electronic storage in connection with claims for, and awards of certain benefits.

Article 2 amends the Claims and Payments Regulations to—

• enable claims for carer’s allowance and a jobseeker’s allowance to be made electronically; and

• provide for the giving of certificates, notices, information and evidence, including notice of a change of circumstances, in relation to awards of attendance allowance, carer’s allowance, disability living allowance, an employment and support allowance, a jobseeker’s allowance and income support by means of an electronic communication, subject to the provisions of Schedule 8D to those Regulations.

Article 3 amends the Jobseekers Order to enable a jobseeker’s agreement and any agreement to vary a jobseeker’s agreement to be made and signed by electronic means.

Article 4 amends the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations to enable—

• signatures to be given electronically; and

• a person to give any certificate, notice, information or evidence, including notice of a change of circumstances, by means of an electronic communication, subject to the provisions set out in Schedule 8D to the Claims and Payments Regulations.

Article 5 amends the definition of “date of notification” in the Decisions and Appeals Regulations so that it applies to decisions notified by means of an electronic communication.

Article 6 makes consequential changes to the Notification of Change of Circumstances Regulations.