Explanatory note

These Regulations further amend the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 and the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996.

In particular, regulations 2, 3 and 4 amend the capital disregard provisions that apply when ascertaining entitlement to those benefits so that the disregard of specified arrears and concessionary payments will apply for either 52 weeks or, where large payments are made to rectify an official error and are paid during the benefit award, for the remainder of that award (as defined) if that is a longer period. Regulation 2 also makes a technical amendment to paragraph 7 of Schedule 10 to the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987.

In so far as these Regulations are required, for the purposes of regulation 3, to be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee under section 149(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, (“the 1992 Act”), after agreement by the Social Security Advisory Committee, they have not been so referred by virtue of section 150(1)(b) of that Act. Otherwise they 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 1992 Act, 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 any charge on business.