Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Social Fund (Cold Weather Payments) (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988 (“the principal Regulations”).

Regulation 2 omits from Regulation 1 of the principal Regulations a number of definitions for terms which are no longer used. It also amends the definition of “claimant” by adding references to “income-based jobseeker’s allowance and “state pension credit”, amends the definition of “postcode” and adds a definition of “state pension credit”.

Regulation 3 updates some references to the Schedule in regulation 2 of the principal Regulations and omits references to parts of postcode areas, no longer required following the amended definition of a Post Office postcode area.

These Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

A regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this rule as it has no impact on the costs of business.