# The Discretionary Support (Amendment) (COVID-19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Draft 2020, ISBN 9780338012319

These Regulations amend the Discretionary Support Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016 No. 270) (“the 2016 Regulations”).

Made under: The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (Article 135)

PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/draft-discretionary-support-amendment-covid-19-regulations-northern-ireland-2020/pdf/nidsr_9780338012319_en.pdf; NI Draft Explanatory Memorandum https://openlegislation.uk/draft-discretionary-support-amendment-covid-19-regulations-northern-ireland-2020/pdf/nidsrem_9780338012319_en.pdf

## Introductory text

Draft Regulations laid before the Assembly under Article 135(5) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 for approval
Welfare
Coming into operation in accordance with regulation 1
The Department for Communities makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 135 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015.
In accordance with Article 135(5) of that Order, a draft of these Regulations was laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.

## 1 Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Discretionary Support (Amendment) (COVID-19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and shall come into operation on the day after they are approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.

## 2 Amendment to the Discretionary Support Regulations

In regulation 12 of the Discretionary Support Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (grant eligibility)—
(a) in paragraph (2) after sub-paragraph (d) add—
“(e) the grant is to provide assistance in the form of living expenses where the claimant or their immediate family is diagnosed with COVID-19 or is advised to self-isolate in accordance with guidance published by the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being.”;
(b) in paragraph (3), for “(a) and (b)” substitute “(a), (b) and (e)”.

## Signature

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on
(L.S.)
Name
A senior officer of the Department for Communities

## Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Discretionary Support Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016 No. 270) (“the 2016 Regulations”).
Regulation 2 amends regulation 12 of the 2016 Regulations to provide for a grant for short-term living expenses to assist claimants affected by COVID-19 or who are advised to self-isolate because of it and to exempt such cases from the restriction of only one grant in twelve months. Guidance is published by the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being and is available in digital form on the following websites: https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/covid-19-coronavirus for the public and https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/coronavirus

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nidsr/2020/9780338012319 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/draft-discretionary-support-amendment-covid-19-regulations-northern-ireland-2020
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.