2020 No. 41
The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
Approved by resolution of the Assembly on 16th June 2020
Made
Coming into operation
The Department for Communities makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 70(8), 90, 113(1)(a) and 171(1), (3) and (4) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 1, sections 5(1)(q), 135(3) and 165(1), (4) and (5) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 19922 and now vested in it3 and sections 20(1) and 51(6) of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 20154.
These Regulations contain provisions in consequence of an order under sections 132 and 132A of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 19925.
Citation, commencement and interpretationI11
1
These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and shall come into operation on 6th April 2020.
2
In these Regulations “the Up-rating Order” means the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 20206.
3
The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 19547 shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.
Exceptions relating to payment of additional benefit by virtue of the Up-rating OrderI22
Section 135(3) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (effect of alteration of rates of benefit under Parts II to V of the Contributions and Benefits Act) shall not apply if a question arises as to either—
a
the weekly rate at which the benefit is payable by virtue of the Up-rating Order; or
b
whether the conditions for receipt of the benefit at the altered rate are satisfied,
until that question has been determined in accordance with the provisions of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 19988.
Persons not ordinarily resident in Northern IrelandI33
Regulation 5 of the Social Security Benefit (Persons Abroad) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 19789 (application of disqualification in respect of up-rating of benefit) and regulation 21 of the State Pension Regulations (Northern Ireland) 201510 (entitlement to state pension for overseas residents) shall apply to any additional benefit payable by virtue of the Up-rating Order and to any up-rating increase as defined in section 22(1) of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 201511 respectively.
Amendment of the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) RegulationsI44
In regulation 8(1) of the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 197612 (circumstances in which a person is or is not to be treated as gainfully employed) for “£123” substitute “£128”.
Amendment of the Social Security Benefit (Dependency) RegulationsI55
In paragraph 2B of Schedule 2 to the Social Security Benefit (Dependency) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 197713 (increase of carer’s allowance for child dependants)—
a
for “£240”, in both places, substitute “£245”; and
b
for “£32” substitute “£33”.
Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) RegulationsI66
In paragraph 4(2A) of Schedule 8A to the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 198714 (deductions from benefits and direct payment to third parties) for “£25.60”, in each place it occurs, substitute “£26.05”.
RevocationI77
The Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 201915.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 20th March 2020
(This note is not part of the Regulations)