Explanatory note

These Regulations provide for a temporary compensation scheme made under section 26 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000 (“the Act”) in certain cases where there has been a delay in the making of a maintenance assessment under the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 leading to arrears of child support maintenance.

Regulation 1 contains interpretation provisions.

Regulation 2 sets out the cases additional to those in the Act to which the scheme will apply.

Regulation 3 provides the prescribed date for the purposes of section 26(1)(a) of the Act.

Regulation 4 prescribes the circumstances in which the Department for Social Development may agree that the absent parent will not be required to pay the whole of the arrears due under a maintenance assessment and in which it will not seek to recover any of the arrears.

Regulation 5 prescribes the terms of the agreement when the scheme shall apply.

Section 26(1) to (4) of the Act, the enabling provision under which these Regulations are made, in so far as not already in operation, came into operation, on 1st January 2001 by virtue of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security (2000 Act) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000 (S.R. 2000 No. 358 (C. 16)).

The impact on business of these Regulations was covered in the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Act, in accordance with, and in consequence of which, these Regulations are made. A copy of that Assessment may be obtained, free of charge, from Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SQ.