The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014

Amendment of the State Pension Credit Regulations

4.—(1) The State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(1) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).

(2) In Schedule 1 (circumstances in which persons are treated as being or not being severely disabled)—

(a) in paragraph 1 (severe disablement)—

(i) for sub-paragraph (1)(c)(ii) substitute—

“(ii) the other partner is certified as severely sight impaired or blind by a consultant ophthalmologist;”, and

(ii) for sub-paragraph (3) substitute—

“(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(c)(ii), a person who has ceased to be certified as severely sight impaired or blind on regaining his eyesight shall nevertheless be treated as severely sight impaired or blind, as the case may be, and as satisfying the requirements set out in that sub-paragraph for a period of 28 weeks following the date on which he ceased to be so certified.”; and

(b) in paragraph 2 (persons residing with the claimant whose presence is ignored)—

(i) for sub-paragraph (2)(b) substitute—

“(b) is certified as severely sight impaired or blind by a consultant ophthalmologist;”, and

(ii) for sub-paragraph (2)(c) substitute—

“(c) is no longer certified as severely sight impaired or blind in accordance with head (b) but was so certified not more than 28 weeks earlier;”.

(3) In Schedule 2 (housing costs)—

(a) in paragraph 1(2) in paragraph (b) of the definition of “disabled person” for head (iii)(2) substitute—

“(iii) is certified as severely sight impaired or blind by a consultant ophthalmologist or who is within 28 weeks of ceasing to be so certified;” and

(b) in paragraph 14(6) (persons residing with the claimant) for head (a) substitute—

“(a) certified as severely sight impaired or blind by a consultant ophthalmologist, or who is within 28 weeks of ceasing to be so certified, or”.

(4) In Schedule 6 (sums disregarded from claimant’s earnings), in paragraph 4(1) for head (b) substitute—

“(b) is or are certified as severely sight impaired or blind by a consultant ophthalmologist.”.

(1)

S.R. 2003 No. 28; relevant amending Regulation is S.R. 2008 No. 286

(2)

Head (iii) was amended by regulation 30(8)(a)(i) of S.R. 2008 No. 286