Amendment of the Social Security (Crediting and Treatment of Contributions, and National Insurance Numbers) Regulations28.

(1)

The Social Security (Crediting and Treatment of Contributions, and National Insurance Numbers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001219 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (5).

(2)

In regulation 1(2) (interpretation)—

(a)

after the definition of “the Order” insert—

““the Welfare Reform Act” means the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007;”;

(b)

in the definition of “contributory benefit” after “income-based jobseeker’s allowance” insert “and includes a contributory employment and support allowance but not an income-related employment and support allowance”;

(c)

after the definition of “contributory benefit” insert—

““contributory employment and support allowance” means a contributory allowance under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act;”;

(d)

after the definition of “earnings factor” insert—

““income-related employment and support allowance” means an income-related allowance under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act;”; and

(e)

in the definition of “relevant benefit year” after paragraph (b) add—

“(c)

paragraph 3(1)(f) of Schedule 1 to the Welfare Reform Act (conditions relating to national insurance), in relation to a contributory employment and support allowance;”.

(3)

In regulation 4 (treatment for the purpose of any contributory benefit of late paid contributions)—

(a)

in paragraph (8) for “or short-term incapacity benefit” substitute “, short-term incapacity benefit or a contributory employment and support allowance”; and

(b)

after paragraph (9)(b) insert—

“(c)

a contributory employment and support allowance is a reference to the condition specified in paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 1 to the Welfare Reform Act.”.

(4)

In regulation 5 (treatment for the purpose of any contributory benefit of late paid primary Class 1 contributions)—

(a)

in paragraph (1)(b)—

(i)

omit “or” after head (i), and

(ii)

after head (ii) add—

“or

(iii)

a contributory employment and support allowance, is not paid before the beginning of the relevant benefit year,”;

(b)

in paragraph (2)(a) for “or short-term incapacity benefit” substitute “, short-term incapacity benefit or a contributory employment and support allowance”; and

(c)

in paragraph (3)(a) after head (ii) add—

“(iii)

a contributory employment and support allowance is a reference to the condition specified in paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 1 to the Welfare Reform Act;”.

(5)

In regulation 5A(a)220 (treatment for the purpose of any contributory benefit of duly paid primary Class 1 contributions in respect of retrospective earnings) for “or short-term incapacity benefit” substitute “, short-term incapacity benefit or a contributory employment and support allowance”.