The Social Security (National Insurance Number Information: Exemption) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Social Security (Guardian’s Allowances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975, the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1976, the Social Security (Widow’s Benefit and Retirement Pensions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979, the Social Security (Severe Disablement Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984, the Social Security (Maternity Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Family Credit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Social Security (Attendance Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992, the Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992, the Disability Working Allowance (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992, the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 and the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996.

These Regulations provide that certain benefits and certain categories of person are exempt from section 1(1A) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (“the Administration Act”); section 1(1A) provides that, when benefit is claimed, information must be supplied relating to the national insurance number of the person claiming benefit and any other person in respect of whom benefit is claimed. These Regulations specify that some of the exemptions will apply for a limited period; where no time limit is specified the exemption applies indefinitely.

These Regulations are made in consequence of Article 18 of the Social Security Administration (Fraud) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (“the Order”) which inserted subsection (1C) into section 1 of the Administration Act. The Social Security Administration (Fraud) (Commencement No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997 (S.R. 1997 No. 480 (C. 28)) provides for the coming into operation of Article 18 of the Order, for the purposes only of authorising the making of regulations on 7th November 1997 and for all other purposes, on 1st December 1997. As these Regulations are made before the end of a period of 6 months from the commencement of the said Article, they are, accordingly exempt, by virtue of section 150(5)(b) of the Administration Act, from reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.