The Energy Payment Support Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations provide for payments (“Energy Payments”) to be made to eligible persons under the Energy Payment Support Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2022.

Regulation 2 provides that the Energy Payment Support Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2022 is set out in the Schedule to the Regulations.

Schedule

Paragraph 2 provides that to be eligible for an Energy Payment at the standard rate (£200), a person must have been in receipt of income-related employment and support allowance, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, state pension credit or universal credit; on any one day during the qualifying week beginning with (and including) Monday 13th December 2021 and ending on Sunday 19th December 2021; and on that day were ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland.

Paragraph 3 provides that the Department may recover any payment made in error.

Paragraph 4 provides that persons who are eligible for an Energy Payment but do not receive it before 28th March 2022 may apply for the payment from the Department for Communities by 31st May 2022. If the Department is satisfied that the applicant was eligible for an Energy Payment during the qualifying week, the Department shall make the payment.

Paragraph 5 provides that there is no right of appeal.

Paragraph 6 provides that the Department for Communities may use social security information for the purpose of determining eligibility for an Energy Payment.

Paragraph 7 provides that the Department for Communities shall make payments under the Energy Payment Support Scheme.

This Scheme will 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.