Explanatory note

These Regulations provide for a winter fuel payment to be paid to persons who fall within the categories prescribed in regulation 2 on any day within the qualifying period (defined in regulation 1(2)) of amounts specified in regulation 3. A decision as to entitlement may be made on the basis of official records held by the Department and the Department of Social Security but not so as to exclude other evidence on a review of that decision under the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (regulation 4).

These Regulations correspond to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Social Security 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.