The Social Security (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

S.R. 2025/129 · Made 8 July 2025 · Extends to Northern Ireland

Social Security

Made 8th July 2025

Coming into operation 1st August 2025

The Department for Communities^f1 makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 1 and 2 of the Electronic Communications Act (Northern Ireland) 2001^f2.

In accordance with section 1(3) of that Act it considers that the authorisation of the use of electronic communications by this Order for any purpose is such that the extent (if any) to which records of things done for that purpose will be available will be no less satisfactory in cases where use is made of electronic communications than in other cases.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1: See Article 8(b) of S.R. 1999 No. 481 and section 1(7) of the Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (c. 5 (N.I.))
f2: 2001 c. 9 (N.I.)

1Citation and commencement
2Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations
Signature
Explanatory note

1Citation and commencementI1

This Order may be cited as the Social Security (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 and shall come into operation on the same day as the Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025^f1.

2Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) RegulationsI1

(1)

The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987^f1 shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (5).

(2)

In regulation 4ZC(2)^f2(electronic claims for benefit)—

(a)

after sub-paragraph (e) insert—

“(ea)
employment and support allowance;”; and

(b)

after sub-paragraph (f) insert—

“(fa)
industrial injuries benefit;”.

(3)

In regulation 32ZA(2)^f3 (information given electronically) after sub-paragraph (e) insert —

“(ea)
industrial injuries benefit;”.

(4)

In the heading of Schedule 8D^f4 after “Regulation 4ZC” insert “and 32ZA”.

(5)

In paragraph 2(1)^f5 (conditions for the use of electronic communications) of Schedule 8D (electronic communication) after head (g) insert—

“(ga)
industrial injuries benefit;”.

Signature

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 8th July 2025

(L.S.)

David Tarr

A senior officer of the Department for Communities

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends a number of provisions in the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (S.R. 1987 No. 465), to allow the use of an electronic communication when making a claim to industrial injuries benefit or employment and support allowance.

The amendments also allow claimants and the Department to communicate information and evidence in relation to claims and awards of industrial injuries benefit or employment and support allowance by means of an electronic communication.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this Order as no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.