(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
These Regulations are consequential on amendments made to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (“the Act”) by Article 52 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (“the Order”). Article 52(2) of the Order inserted section 39A into the Act.
The Regulations further amend the Social Security (Widow’s Benefit and Retirement Pensions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979 in relation to the introduction of widowed parent’s allowance. A new regulation 16ZA is inserted to provide for a person to be treated as entitled to child benefit in certain circumstances where eligibility to a widowed parent’s allowance is dependent on such entitlement (regulation 2(a)). They also disapply for the purposes of a claim for widowed parent’s allowance certain requirements in respect of the claimant’s national insurance number (regulation 2(b)).
These Regulations correspond to provision contained in regulations made by the Secretary of State for Social Security in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.