# The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026, Regulation 6: Amendment of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations

Extent: N.I.

(1) The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (8).
(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation)—
(a) after the definition of “mobility supplement” 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 107(5A) (notional income – income due to be paid or income paid to or in respect of a third party) after sub-paragraph (e) insert—
“(ea) a Mother and Baby Scheme payment;”.
(4) In regulation 112(8)(b) (income treated as capital) after head (v) insert—
“(va) Mother and Baby Scheme payment;”.
(5) In regulation 115(5A) (notional capital) after sub-paragraph (f) insert—
“(fa) a Mother and Baby Scheme payment;”.
(6) In paragraph 19(8)(b) (non-dependant deductions) of Schedule 6 (housing costs) for “or miscarriage of justice compensation payment” substitute “, miscarriage of justice compensation payment, Mother and Baby Scheme payment”.
(7) In paragraph 40 of Schedule 8 (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 27 of Schedule 9 (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/6 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-miscellaneous-amendments-regulations-northern-ireland-2026/regulation-6
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.