Health and Social Care Act 2008

134 Entitlement: Northern Ireland

After Part 8 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7) insert—

“Part 8A Health in pregnancy grant

136A Entitlement

(1) A woman who satisfies prescribed conditions in relation to a pregnancy of hers is entitled to payment of a lump sum (to be known as “health in pregnancy grant”).

(2) A condition prescribed under subsection (1) may, in particular, require a woman to have reached a specified stage of her pregnancy.

(3) A woman is not entitled to health in pregnancy grant unless—

(a) she has received advice on matters relating to maternal health from a health professional;

(b) she is in Northern Ireland at the time she makes a claim for the grant in accordance with the Administration Act.

(4) Circumstances may be prescribed in which a woman is to be treated for the purposes of subsection (3)(b) as being, or as not being, in Northern Ireland.

(5) In this section—

• “health professional” has such meaning as may be prescribed,

• “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations, and

• “woman” means a female of any age.

(6) The power to make regulations under this section is exercisable by the Treasury.

136B Amount

(1) Health in pregnancy grant is to be of an amount prescribed by regulations made by the Treasury.

(2) Different amounts may be prescribed in relation to different cases.”