http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2020/147/madeThe Social Security (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020enGovernment Printer for Northern Ireland2020-07-22SOCIAL SECURITY This Order amends the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (S.R. 1987 No. 465), (“the Claims and Payments Regulations”), to allow electronic claims to be made for a social fund funeral payment, a social fund payment in respect of maternity expenses and maternity allowance. 2020 No. 147 Social Security The Social Security (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 Made 21st July 2020 Coming into operation 22nd July 2020

The Department for Communities makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 1 and 2 of the Electronic Communications Act (Northern Ireland) 2001.

 In accordance with section 1(3) of that Act it considers that the authorisation of the use of electronic communications by this Order for any purpose is such that the extent (if any) to which records of things done for that purpose will be available will be no less satisfactory in cases where use is made of electronic communications than in other cases. Citation and commencement 1 This Order may be cited as the Social Security (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 and shall come into operation on 22nd July 2020. Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2 1 The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 are amended as follows. 2 In regulation 4ZC(2)(electronic claims for benefit)— a after “a Jobseeker’s allowance,” insert “maternity allowance”; b after “retirement pension” insert “a social fund funeral payment, a social fund payment in respect of maternity expenses”. 3 In regulation 32ZA(2)(information given electronically)— a after paragraph (f) insert “(fa) maternity allowance;”; and b after paragraph (ga) insert “(gb) a social fund payment in respect of maternity expenses;”. 4 In Schedule 8D (conditions for the use of electronic communication) in paragraph (2) after “a social fund funeral payment” insert “a social fund payment in respect of maternity expenses, maternity allowance”. Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 21st July 2020 (L.S.) Anne McCleary A senior officer of the Department for Communities EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (S.R. 1987 No. 465), (“the Claims and Payments Regulations”), to allow electronic claims to be made for a social fund funeral payment, a social fund payment in respect of maternity expenses and maternity allowance.

Article 1 provides for citation and commencement.

Article 2 amends regulation 4ZC, 32ZA of, and paragraph 2 of Schedule 8D to, the Claims and Payments Regulations to permit the use of an electronic communication in connection with a claim for a social fund funeral payment, a social fund payment in respect of maternity expenses and maternity allowance. The use of an electronic communication by claimants must be in accordance with a Direction of the Department.

 2001 c. 9 (N.I.) S.R. 1987 No. 465 Regulation 4ZC was inserted by Article 2(3) of S.R. 2006 No. 203 and amended by Article 2(2) of S.R. 2011 No.298, regulation 9(5) of S.R. 2016 No. 411 , regulation 10(5) of S.R. 2017 No. 66 and Article 2(2) of S.R. 2020 No. 87 Regulation 32ZA was inserted by Article 2(3) of S.R. 2011 No. 298 and amended by Article 2 of S.R. 2011 No. 431, regulation 9(15) of S.R. 2015 No. 41, regulation 10(10) of S.R. 2017 No. 66 and regulation 2(3) of S.R. 2018 No. 45 Schedule 8D was inserted by Article 2(4) of S.R. 2006 No.203 and paragraph 2 was amended by Article 2(4) of S.R. 2011 No. 298, Article 2(3) of S.R. 2011 No. 431, regulation 9(21) of S.R. 2015 No. 411, Article 10 (14) of S.R. 2017 No. 66, regulation 2(5) of S.R. 2018 No. 45 and Article 2(3) of S.R. 2020 No. 87