1. This Order may be cited as the Social Security (Electronic Communications) (Miscellaneous Benefits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2006 and shall come into operation on 26th May 2006.
2.—(1) The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(1) shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).
(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation) after the definition of “claim for benefit” there shall be inserted the following definition—
““electronic communication” has the same meaning as in section 4(1) of the Electronic Communications Act (Northern Ireland) 2001;”.
(3) After regulation 4B(2) (forwarding claims and information) there shall be inserted the following regulation—
4ZC.—(1) Any claim for benefit in relation to which this regulation applies, and any certificate, notice, information or evidence given in connection with that claim, may be made or given by means of an electronic communication in accordance with the provisions set out in Schedule 8D.
(2) This regulation applies to attendance allowance, disability living allowance, graduated retirement benefit, retirement pension and shared additional pension.”.
(4) After Schedule 8C(3) (deductions from benefit in respect of child support maintenance and payment to persons with care) there shall be inserted as Schedule 8D the Schedule set out in the Schedule to this Order.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 2nd May 2006.
L.S.
John O'Neill
A senior officer of the
Department for Social Development