Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (“the Claims and Payments Regulations”) and the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (“the Decisions and Appeals Regulations”).

Regulation 2 amends the Claims and Payments Regulations to—

• provide that where a claimant’s partner or child is awarded a benefit which has the effect of making a benefit which the claimant receives payable or payable at an increased rate, the periods of entitlement to those benefits shall be the same in the circumstances specified;

• link certain provisions to the award rather than the payability of a benefit; and

• provide for an extension of the time for claiming income support and jobseeker’s allowance in specified circumstances.

Regulation 3 amends the Decisions and Appeals Regulations—

• as to the power to revise or supersede a decision; and

• as regards the effective date of a superseding decision in specified circumstances.

Regulation 4 makes a consequential revocation.

These Regulations correspond 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, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

These Regulations do not impose a charge on business.