The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015

The Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000 (c. 4)

12.  In section 60 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000 (discretionary financial assistance with housing)—

(a) in subsection (1), omit the words “by regulations make provision conferring a power on relevant authorities to”;

(b) in subsection (1)(b), for “such an authority” substitute “the Department”;

(c) for subsection (2) substitute—

“(2) The Department may by regulations—

(a) prescribe the circumstances in which it may make discretionary housing payments;

(b) confer a discretion on the Department (subject to any provision made by virtue of paragraph (c) or (d))—

(i) as to whether or not to make discretionary housing payments in a particular case; and

(ii) as to the amount of the payments and the period for or in respect of which they are made;

(c) impose a limit on the amount of the discretionary housing payment that it may make in any particular case;

(d) restrict the period for or in respect of which it may make discretionary housing payments;

(e) prescribe the form and manner in which claims for discretionary housing payments are to be made and about the procedure to be followed in dealing with and disposing of such claims;

(f) impose conditions on persons claiming or receiving discretionary housing payments requiring them to provide to the Department such information as may be prescribed;

(g) prescribe the circumstances in which it is entitled to cancel the making of further such payments or to recover a payment already made; or

(h) require or authorise the Department to review the decisions made by the Department with respect to the making, cancellation or recovery of discretionary housing payments.”;

(d) in subsection (5), omit the words “or different relevant authorities”;

(e) for subsection (6) substitute—

“(6) In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by or determined in accordance with regulations made by the Department.”