Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1968), the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/207), the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/213), the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/214), the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/215) and the Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/216).

They also amend the Social Security (Notification of Change of Circumstances) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3252) which prescribe the person to whom and manner in which a change of circumstances must be notified for the purposes of sections 111A and 112 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (offences relating to failure to notify a change of circumstances).

The amendments allow for alternative methods of discharging the duty to notify a change of circumstances which may affect entitlement to, or payment of, benefit. These alternative methods of notification only apply to a change of circumstances which is a birth or death.

In relation to housing benefit and council tax benefit, the alternative notification methods may only be used to discharge the duty to notify a change of circumstances where the authority administering the claimant’s housing benefit or council tax benefit has agreed with the Secretary of State that notifications may be made by such alternative methods.

Guidance setting out the conditions under which these alternative methods may be used will be made available at offices of the Department for Work and Pensions, on the Department’s publicly accessible website and at participating local authority offices.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the private or voluntary sectors.