EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations ensure the social security assistance entitlement of certain persons arriving in Scotland from Afghanistan.
These Regulations amend the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Regulations 1976 (S.I. 1976/409), the Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/2890), the Social Security (Attendance Allowance) Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/2740), the Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/377), the Early Years Assistance (Best Start Grants) (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/370), the Welfare Foods (Best Start Foods) (Scotland) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/193), the Carer’s Assistance (Young Carer Grants) (Scotland) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/324), and the Disability Assistance for Children and Young People (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (S.S.I. 2021/174).
The aforementioned list of legislation imposes requirements relating to habitual residence, and in some cases also past presence, for applicants to satisfy before they are entitled to social security assistance. These Regulations exempt from those requirements a cohort of people resident in Scotland who have entered the United Kingdom by virtue of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, the previous scheme for locally-employed staff in Afghanistan (sometimes referred to as the ex-gratia scheme), or the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.
No business and regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations as no impact on business, charities or voluntary bodies is foreseen.