This Order amends the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (“the Claims and Payments Regulations”) and the Social Security (Notification of Change of Circumstances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (“the Notification of Change of Circumstances Regulations”) to facilitate the use of electronic communications and electronic storage in connection with awards of incapacity benefit, retirement pension and state pension credit.

Article 2 amends the Claims and Payments Regulations to provide for the giving of certificates, notices, information and evidence, including notice of a change of circumstances, in relation to those benefits by means of an electronic communication, subject to the provisions of Schedule 8D to those Regulations.

Article 3 makes corresponding amendments to regulation 5 of the Notification of Change of Circumstances Regulations.