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Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992

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Changes over time for: Section 134

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Changes to legislation:

Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, Section 134 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 06 March 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

134 Payments out of the social fund.N.I.

[F1(1)There may be made out of the social fund, in accordance with this Part of this Act—

(a)payments of prescribed amounts, whether in respect of prescribed items or otherwise, to meet, in prescribed circumstances, maternity expenses and funeral expenses; [F2and]

(b)[F3payments by way of community care grant, crisis loan or budgeting loan [F4to meet—

(i)other needs, and

(ii)in the case of payments by way of budgeting loan, those needs for which provision is made by paragraph (a),]

in accordance with directions given or guidance issued by the Department.]]

(2)Payments may also be made out of that fund, in accordance with this Part of this Act, of a prescribed amount or a number of prescribed amounts to prescribed descriptions of persons, in prescribed circumstances to meet expenses for heating which appear to the Department to have been or to be likely to be incurred in cold weather.

(3)[F5The power to make a payment out of the social fund such as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b) above may be exercised by making a payment to a third party with a view to the third party providing, or arranging for the provision of, goods or services for the applicant.]

(4)In this section “prescribed” means specified in or determined in accordance with regulations.

[F6(5)[F5In this Part—

  • “budgeting loan” means a loan awarded in circumstances specified in directions issued by the Department for the purpose of defraying an intermittent expense;

  • “community care grant” means a grant awarded in circumstances so specified for the purpose of meeting a need for community care;

  • “crisis loan” means a loan awarded in circumstances so specified for the purpose of meeting an immediate short term need,

and any reference in this subsection to meeting a need or defraying an expense includes a reference to helping to meet the need or to defray the expense.]]

Textual Amendments

F2Word in s. 134(1) repealed (28.11.2016 in so far as relates to a community care grant or a crisis loan) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), art. 2(2), Sch. 12 Pt. 7; S.R. 2016/411, art. 2(3)(a) (with art. 4)

F3S. 134(1)(b) repealed (28.11.2016 in so far as relates to a community care grant or a crisis loan) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), arts. 2(2), 76(1); S.R. 2016/411, art. 2(2)(a) (with art. 4)

F5S. 134(3)(5) repealed (28.11.2016 in so far as relate to a community care grant or a crisis loan) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), art. 2(2), Sch. 12 Pt. 7; S.R. 2016/411, art. 2(3)(a) (with art. 4)

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