# The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026, Regulation 4: Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations

Extent: N.I.

(1) The Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (8).
(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation)—
(a) after the definition of “miscarriage of justice compensation payment” insert—
““Mother and Baby Scheme payment” means a payment under the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme established by the Irish Government under section 5 of the Irish Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023;”;
(b) in the definition of “qualifying person” after “an LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme payment” insert “, a Mother and Baby Scheme payment”.
(3) In regulation 39(7A) (notional income) after sub-paragraph (e), insert—
“(ea) a Mother and Baby Scheme payment;”.
(4) In regulation 43(6) (income treated as capital), after “an LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme payment”, insert “, a Mother and Baby Scheme payment”.
(5) In regulation 46(4A) (notional capital), after sub-paragraph (f), insert—
“(fa) a Mother and Baby Scheme payment;”.
(6) In regulation 72(9) (non-dependant deductions), after sub-paragraph (bf), insert—
“(bg) any Mother and Baby Scheme payment;”.
(7) In paragraph 37 of Schedule 6 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (1A), after head (e), insert—
“(ea) Mother and Baby Scheme payment;”;
(b) in each of sub-paragraphs (2) to (6) after “an LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme payment” insert “, a Mother and Baby Scheme payment”.
(8) In paragraph 25 of Schedule 7 (capital to be disregarded)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (1A) after “LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme payment” insert “, Mother and Baby Scheme payment”;
(b) in each of sub-paragraphs (2) to (5) and (6) after “an LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme payment” insert “, a Mother and Baby Scheme payment”.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2026/177/regulation/4 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-miscellaneous-amendments-regulations-northern-ireland-2026/regulation-4
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.