Explanatory note

This Order amends the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (“the Claims and Payments Regulations”) to allow electronic claims to be made for State Pension Credit. Due to the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak in Northern Ireland, an online digital platform has been developed to provide claimants with an additional route for claiming and to ease the operational impacts of the pandemic.

Article 1 provides for citation and commencement.

Article 2 amends regulation 4ZC of, and paragraph 2 of Schedule 8D to, the Claims and Payments Regulations to permit the use of an electronic communication in connection with a claim for State Pension Credit. The use of an electronic communication by claimants must be in accordance with a direction of the Department.