Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland
2020 No. 67
Welfare
The Discretionary Support (Amendment No. 2) (COVID-19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
Laid before the Assembly in draft
Made
21st April 2020
Coming into operation in accordance with regulation 1
The Department for Communities(1) makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 135 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015(2).
In accordance with Article 135(5) of that Order, a draft of these Regulations was laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.
Citation and commencement
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Discretionary Support (Amendment No. 2) (COVID-19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and shall come into operation on the day after they are approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.
Amendment to the Discretionary Support Regulations
2. In regulation 15 of the Discretionary Support Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(3) (calculation of income) for “40 hours” substitute “45 hours”.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 21 April 2020
(L.S.)
Anne McCleary
A senior officer of the Department for Communities
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Discretionary Support Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016 No. 270) (“the 2016 Regulations”).
Regulation 2 amends regulation 15 of the 2016 Regulations to increase the annual income threshold by increasing the number of hours per working week from 40 hours to 45 hours. This will increase the amount of earnings a person can have while still being eligible for discretionary support. This will provide additional access to support to those whose income is affected by COVID-19.
See section 1(7) of the Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (c. 5 (N.I.))