Explanatory note

These Regulations contain amendments to a number of Social Security Regulations.

Regulation 2 amends the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996. Paragraphs (2) and (3) insert in regulations 14 and 19 respectively (which provide for circumstances in which a person is to be treated as available for or actively seeking employment) a reference to the Venture Trust Project and paragraph (4) makes a consequential amendment to regulation 30(c). Paragraph (5) amends existing provisions which cover claims in respect of a past period, to provide that no period before the claim is made forms part of the jobseeking period. Paragraph (6) is a technical amendment to ensure that references to the Social Security (Credits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975 are correct.

Regulation 3 amends the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 and is a technical amendment to ensure that references to the Social Security (Credits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975 are correct.

Regulations 4 and 5 amend the Family Credit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 and the Disability Working Allowance (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 to enable child care charges to be calculated in circumstances where an agreement for child care has been made, but charges for that care have not been incurred.

These Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Social Security 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 (c. 8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.