(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
These Regulations further amend the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 and the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996.
Regulation 2 extends entitlement to income support, where a woman is or has been pregnant and has an expected week of confinement beginning on or after 6th April 2003, to a period commencing 11 weeks before her expected week of confinement and ending fifteen weeks after the date on which her pregnancy ends.
Regulation 3 makes similar provision in respect of joint-claim couples under the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996.
These Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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.
These Regulations do not impose any charge on business.