The Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997

Applications for certificates of recoverable benefits

6.—(1) Before a person (“the compensator”) makes a compensation payment he shall apply to the Department for a certificate of recoverable benefits.

(2) Where the compensator applies for a certificate of recoverable benefits, the Department shall—

(a)send to him a written acknowledgement of receipt of his application, and

(b)subject to paragraph (7), issue the certificate before the end of the following period.

(3) The period is—

(a)the prescribed period, or

(b)if there is no prescribed period, the period of four weeks,

which begins with the day on which the application is received.

(4) The certificate is to remain in force until the date specified in it for that purpose.

(5) The compensator may apply for fresh certificates from time to time.

(6) Where a certificate of recoverable benefits ceases to be in force, the Department may issue a fresh certificate without an application for one being made.

(7) Where the compensator applies for a fresh certificate while a certificate (“the existing certificate”) remains in force, the Department shall issue the fresh certificate before the end of the following period.

(8) The period is—

(a)the prescribed period, or

(b)if there is no prescribed period, the period of four weeks,

which begins with the day on which the existing certificate ceases to be in force.

(9) For the purposes of this Order, regulations may provide for the day on which an application for a certificate of recoverable benefits is to be treated as received.