# The Social Security (Fines) (Deduction from Benefits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021, Regulation 3: Deduction from debtor’s universal credit

Extent: N.I.

(1) Subject to regulation 4, where—
(a) the Department receives an application from the collections officer in respect of a debtor who is entitled to universal credit;
(b) the amount payable by way of that benefit, after any deduction under this paragraph, is 10 pence or more; and
(c) the aggregate amount that may be deducted from a claimant’s award of universal credit in relation to any assessment period and paid to a third party under paragraphs 6(3), 7(5), 8(3) and (4), 9(3), 10(3) of Schedule 5 to the Claims and Payments Regulations, together with the amount to be deducted under this paragraph does not exceed the maximum amount under paragraph 4 of Schedule 5 to the Claims and Payments Regulations,
the Department may deduct a sum from that benefit which is equal to 5 per cent. of the standard allowance or £5, whichever is the greater amount allowed by sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) and pay that sum to the court by or for which the application was made towards satisfaction of the sum due.
(2) The Department shall notify the debtor and the court in writing of a decision to make a deduction under this regulation so far as is practicable within 14 days from the date on which it made the decision and at the same time shall notify the debtor of a right to appeal.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2021/215/regulation/3 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-fines-deduction-from-benefits-regulations-northern-ireland-2021/regulation-3
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.