Explanatory note

These Regulations reverse the amendments introduced in Schedule 1 to the Personal Independence Payment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016 No. 217) by regulation 2(4) of the Personal Independence Payment (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017 No. 69). The corresponding amendments made in Great Britain to the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/377) by regulation 2(4) of the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/194) were found to be ultra vires by a decision of the High Court handed down on 21 December 2017 ([2017] EWHC 3375 (Admin)).

Regulation 2 removes wording relating to the exclusion of psychological distress from descriptors c, d and f (planning or following the route of a journey) in the activity “planning and following journeys” in Part 3 of Schedule 1 (mobility activities).

Regulation 3 makes a consequential revocation to the Personal Independence Payment (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017 No. 69).

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.