Explanatory note

These Regulations further amend the Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 (“the principal Regulations”), which provide for remission and payment of certain charges which would otherwise be payable under the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 and for payment by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public safety of travelling expenses incurred in attending a hospital.

Regulation 2 makes provision for the calculation of the resources and requirements of members of polygamous marriages.

In particular, regulation 3 provides that where a person who is in receipt of employment and support allowance has a sanction applied under regulation 63 of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008, his entitlement to remission of Health Service charges and the payment of Health Service travel expenses shall be calculated as if the sanction had not been applied. Regulation 3 also provides for specific disregards for those who undertake exempt work under regulation 45 of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008.

Regulation 4 provides for those aged under 25 to have included in the calculation of their entitlement to a remission of Health Service charges and the payment of Health Service travel expenses a personal allowance of an amount equal to that for a person aged 25 or over. This will apply to those who are either in receipt of employment and support allowance and have been awarded an employment and support allowance component, or who have been incapable of work for a continuous period of 28 weeks since 27^th October 2008. Regulation 4 also provides for various premiums to be included in the calculation for entitlement to remission of Health Service charges and the payment of Health Service travel expenses, for those who receive Employment and Support Allowance.