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PART 1N.I.INTRODUCTION

Citation, commencement and effectN.I.

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 and, subject to paragraph (2), shall come into operation for the purposes of—

(a)this Article and Articles 2 and 6 on 1st April 2012;

(b)Article 3—

(i)in so far as it relates to any increase to which Article 6(10)(b) applies, on 1st April 2012, and

(ii)for all other purposes, on 9th April 2012;

(c)Articles 4, 5, 7, 12, 13 and 16 on 9th April 2012;

(d)Article 8, in so far as it relates to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 1st April 2012 and, for the purpose of this sub-paragraph, “benefit week” has the same meaning as in regulation 2(1) of the Computation of Earnings Regulations;

(e)Article 9 on 6th April 2012;

(f)Article 10 on 1st April 2012, except for the purpose of determining the rate of maternity allowance in accordance with section 35A(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(1) for which purpose it shall come into operation on 9th April 2012;

(g)Article 11 on 1st April 2012;

(h)Articles 14, 15 and 27 on 12th April 2012;

(i)Articles 17 to 19, in so far as they relate to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 9th April 2012 and, for the purpose of this sub-paragraph, “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the Income Support Regulations;

(j)Articles 20 and 21, in relation to a case where rent is payable at intervals of a week or any multiple thereof, on 2nd April 2012, and in relation to any other case, on 1st April 2012;

(k)Articles 22 to 24, in so far as they relate to a particular beneficiary—

(i)for the purposes of Article 22(c), in so far as it relates to an increase to which Article 6(10)(b) applies, on 1st April 2012, and

(ii)for all other purposes, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 9th April 2012, and for the purposes of this head “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations;

(l)Article 25, in so far as it relates to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 9th April 2012 and, for the purpose of this sub-paragraph, “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the State Pension Credit Regulations; and

(m)Article 26, in so far as it relates to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 9th April 2012 and, for the purpose of this sub-paragraph, “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations.

(2) The changes made—

(a)in the sums specified for rates or amounts of benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act or the Pension Schemes Act; and

(b)by Article 22(c), in so far as it is relevant for the purposes referred to in Article 6(10),

shall take effect for each case on the date specified in relation to that case in Article 6.

Commencement Information

I1Art. 1 in operation at 1.4.2012, see art. 1(1)(a)

InterpretationN.I.

2.—(1) In this Order—

“the Administration Act” means the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992;

“the Contributions and Benefits Act” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(2);

“the Pension Schemes Act” means the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993(3);

“the Computation of Earnings Regulations” means the Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(4);

“the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations” means the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008(5);

“the Housing Benefit Regulations” means the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(6);

“the Housing Benefit (SPC) Regulations” means the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for State Pension Credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(7);

“the Income Support Regulations” means the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(8);

“the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations” means the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(9);

“the State Pension Credit Regulations” means the State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(10).

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(11) shall apply to this Order as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

(3) For the purposes of this Order and notwithstanding section 39(2) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954, where a period of time is expressed to begin on, or to be reckoned from, a particular day, that day shall be included in the period.

Commencement Information

I2Art. 2 in operation at 1.4.2012, see art. 1(1)(a)

PART 2N.I.SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND PENSIONS

Rates or amounts of certain benefits under the Contributions and Benefits ActN.I.

F13.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Rates or amounts of certain pensions or allowances under the Contributions and Benefits ActN.I.

F14.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Rates or amounts of certain benefits under the Pension Schemes ActN.I.

F15.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Dates on which sums specified for rates or amounts of benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act or the Pension Schemes Act are changed by this OrderN.I.

F16.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Workmen’s compensationN.I.

F17.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Earnings limitsN.I.

F18.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Statutory sick payN.I.

F19.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Statutory maternity payN.I.

F110.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Ordinary and additional statutory paternity pay and statutory adoption payN.I.

F111.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Graduated retirement benefitN.I.

F112.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Disability living allowanceN.I.

F113.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Age addition to long-term incapacity benefitN.I.

F114.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Transitional invalidity allowance in long-term incapacity benefit casesN.I.

F115.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Bereavement benefitsN.I.

F116.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 3N.I.INCOME SUPPORT AND HOUSING BENEFIT

Applicable amounts for income supportN.I.

F117.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Income support transitional protectionN.I.

F118.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Relevant sum for income supportN.I.

F119.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Housing benefitN.I.

20.—(1) The sums relevant to the calculation of an applicable amount as specified in the Housing Benefit Regulations shall be the sums set out in this Article and Schedules 5 and 6 to this Order; and for this purpose a reference in this Article to a numbered regulation or Schedule is a reference to the regulation of, or Schedule to, the Housing Benefit Regulations bearing that number.

(2) In regulation 24(3) (calculation of income on a weekly basis) the sums of £175∙00 and £300∙00 remain the same.

(3) In regulation 72(12) (non-dependant deductions)—

(a)in paragraph (1) for “£60∙60”, “£8∙60”, “£9∙40” and “£2∙85” substitute “£73∙85”, “£9∙90”, “£11∙45” and “£3∙30”, respectively; and

(b)in paragraph (2)—

F2(i). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(ii)in sub-paragraph (b) for “£122∙00”, “£180∙00” and “£21∙55” substitute “£124∙00”, “£183∙00” and “£26∙25” respectively,

(iii)in sub-paragraph (c) for “£180∙00”, “£234∙00” and “£29∙60” substitute “£183∙00”, “£238∙00” and “£36∙10” respectively,

(iv)in sub-paragraph (d) for “£234∙00”, “£310∙00” and “£48∙45” substitute “£238∙00”, “£316∙00” and “£59∙05” respectively,

F2(v). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(vi)in sub-paragraph (f) for “£180∙00” substitute “£183∙00”,

(vii)in sub-paragraph (g) for “£180∙00”, “£310∙00” and “£5∙70” substitute “£183∙00”, “£316∙00” and “£6∙55” respectively, and

(viii)in sub-paragraph (h) for “£310∙00”, “£387∙00” and “£7∙20” substitute “£316∙00”, “£394∙00” and “£8∙25” respectively.

F3(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3(9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3(10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I3Art. 20 in operation at 1.4.2012 in so far as not already in force, see art. 1(1)(j)

I4Art. 20 in operation at 2.4.2012 for specified purposes, see art. 1(1)(j)

Housing benefit for certain persons over the qualifying age for state pension creditN.I.

21.—(1) The sums relevant to the calculation of an applicable amount as specified in the Housing Benefit (SPC) Regulations shall be the sums set out in this Article and Schedules 7 and 8 to this Order; and for this purpose a reference in this Article to a numbered regulation or Schedule is a reference to the regulation of, or Schedule to, the Housing Benefit (SPC) Regulations bearing that number.

F4(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) In regulation 53(13) (non-dependant deductions)—

(a)in paragraph (1) for “£60∙60”, “£8∙60”, “£9∙40” and “£2∙85” substitute “£73∙85”, “£9∙90”, “£11∙45” and “£3∙30” respectively; and

(b)in paragraph (2)—

F5(i). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5(ii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5(iii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5(iv). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5(v). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(vi)in sub-paragraph (f) for “£180∙00” substitute “£183∙00”,

(vii)in sub-paragraph (g) for “£180∙00”, “£310∙00” and “£5∙70” substitute “£183∙00”, “£316∙00” and “£6∙55” respectively, and

(viii)in sub-paragraph (h) for “£310∙00”, “£387∙00” and “£7∙20” substitute “£316∙00”, “£394∙00” and “£8∙25” respectively.

F6(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I5Art. 21 in operation at 1.4.2012 in so far as not already in force, see art. 1(1)(j)

I6Art. 21 in operation at 2.4.2012 for specified purposes, see art. 1(1)(j)

PART 4N.I.JOBSEEKER’S ALLOWANCE

Age-related amounts of contribution-based jobseeker’s allowanceN.I.

F722.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Applicable amounts for jobseeker’s allowanceN.I.

F723.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Prescribed sum for jobseeker’s allowanceN.I.

F724.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 5N.I.STATE PENSION CREDIT

State pension creditN.I.

F725.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 6N.I.EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE

Applicable amounts for employment and support allowanceN.I.

F726.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

PART 7N.I.REVOCATION

RevocationN.I.

F727.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 14th March 2012

(L.S.)

Anne McCleary

A senior officer of the Department for Social Development