Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations), the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 and the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008.

Regulation 2 increases the amounts of grant and loan income to be disregarded in respect of travel costs and the costs of books and equipment.

Regulation 3 amends the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations so that couples, where one member is aged 18 or over and the other member is aged under 18, are entitled to same amount of personal allowance as a couple in similar circumstances claiming Income Support.

Regulation 4 makes consequential revocations.

In so far as these Regulations are required, for the purposes of regulation 2(1), (2) and (3)(c), to be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee under section 149(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, after agreement by the Social Security Advisory Committee, they have not been so referred by virtue of section 150(1)(b) of that Act. Otherwise they make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, that Act, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.