2. After regulation 32(1) (information to be given and changes to be notified) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987(2) insert—
32ZZA.—(1) In such cases and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may specify, the duty in regulation 32(1B) to notify a change of circumstances may be discharged by notifying the Secretary of State as soon as reasonably practicable—
(a)where the change of circumstances is a birth or death, through a relevant authority, or a county council in England, by personal attendance at an office specified by that authority or county council, provided the Secretary of State has agreed with that authority or county council for it to facilitate such notification; or
(b)where the change of circumstances is a death, by telephone to a telephone number specified for that purpose by the Secretary of State.
(2) In this regulation “relevant authority” has the same meaning as in the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006(3) and the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006(4).”.
The relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2003/1050 and 2003/3209.
S.I. 2006/213. “Relevant authority” is defined under regulation 2(1) as “an authority administering housing benefit”.
S.I. 2006/215. “Relevant authority” is defined under regulation 2(1) as “an authority administering council tax benefit”.