The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Amendment Regulations 2016
In accordance with section 173(1)(b) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, the Secretary of State has obtained the agreement of the Social Security Advisory Committee that proposals in respect of these Regulations should not be referred to it.
Citation and commencement1.
These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Amendment Regulations 2016 and they come into force on 15th June 2016.
Amendments to the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 19872.
(1)
(2)
“(11)
A claim for the following benefits may be made by telephone call to a telephone number specified by the Secretary of State for the purpose of the benefit for which the claim is made, unless the Secretary of State directs, in any particular case, that the claim must be made in writing—
(a)
graduated retirement benefit;
(b)
a shared additional pension;
(c)
a retirement pension;
(d)
a state pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act 20144;(e)
a bereavement benefit;
(f)
a social fund payment for funeral expenses or winter fuel payment;
(g)
industrial injuries benefit5.”.
(3)
“(2)
This regulation applies to the following benefits—
(a)
carer’s allowance;
(b)
attendance allowance;
(c)
disability living allowance;
(d)
graduated retirement benefit;
(e)
a jobseeker’s allowance;
(f)
a retirement pension;
(g)
state pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act 2014;
(h)
shared additional pension;
(i)
industrial injuries benefit;
(j)
an employment and support allowance.”.
(4)
“(j)
industrial injuries benefit.”.
(5)
(a)
“(1)
The Secretary of State may use an electronic communication in connection with claims for, and awards of—
(a)
carer’s allowance;
(b)
attendance allowance;
(c)
disability living allowance;
(d)
graduated retirement benefit;
(e)
a jobseeker’s allowance;
(f)
a retirement pension;
(g)
state pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act 2014;
(h)
shared additional pension;
(i)
industrial injuries benefit;
(j)
an employment and support allowance.
(1A)
The Secretary of State may use an electronic communication in connection with awards of—
(a)
incapacity benefit;
(b)
income support;
(c)
state pension credit.”;
(b)
in sub-paragraph (2), for “sub-paragraph (1)” substitute “sub-paragraphs (1) and (1A)”.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
These Regulations amend a number of provisions in the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1968) (the “1987 Regulations”). The amendments allow the use of the telephone or an electronic communication when making a claim for industrial injuries benefit. The amendments also allow claimants and the Secretary of State to supply information and evidence in connection with an award of industrial injuries benefit or employment and support allowance (“ESA”) by means of an electronic communication.
Regulation 2(2) amends regulation 4 of the 1987 Regulations to allow industrial injuries benefit claims to be made by telephone.
Regulation 2(3) amends regulation 4ZC of the 1987 Regulations to allow communications from claimants and the Secretary of State connected with industrial injuries benefit claims or ESA claims to be made by means of an electronic communication.
Regulation 2(4) amends regulation 32ZA of the 1987 Regulations to allow claimants and the Secretary of State to communicate information and evidence in relation to industrial injuries benefit awards to be made by means of an electronic communication.
Regulation 2(5) amends Schedule 9ZC to the 1987 Regulations to provide that information supplied in connection with claims for and awards of industrial injuries benefit and ESA are covered by the evidential conditions for electronic communications.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on business or civil society organisations.