Explanatory note

These Regulations apply to members of Her Majesty’s forces who are discharged after 3rd May 2003, were on sickness absence from duty while in the forces and who claim incapacity benefit.

Regulation 2 amends the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 by inserting a new regulation 6C which prescribes the days to be included when calculating, for the purpose of ascertaining the weekly rate of benefit, the number of days for which a person has been entitled to short-term incapacity benefit.

These Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding 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.