Regulation 2 Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations

The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1977^f1 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

In regulation 2(1) (interpretation) after the definition of “claim for benefit” insert—

• ““health care professional” means—

  1. (a)

     a registered medical practitioner;

  2. (b)

     a registered nurse;

  3. (c)

     an occupational therapist or physiotherapist registered with a regulatory body established by an Order in Council under section 60 of the Health Act 1999^f2; or

  4. (d)

     a member of such other profession regulated by a body mentioned in section 25(3) of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002^f3 prescribed by the Department in accordance with powers under Article 2(2) of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998^f4;”.

In regulation 26(1)(a)^f5 (obligations of claimants for, and beneficiaries in receipt of disablement benefit) for “medical practitioner” substitute “health care professional approved by the Department”.