(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (S.R. 1987 No. 459), the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 198), the State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (S.R. 2003 No. 28), the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006 No. 405), the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006 No. 406) and the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008 No. 280). They make changes to several social security benefits that would more usually be included in an up-rating order.
Regulations 2, 3, 6 and 7 amend the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987, the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996, the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 and the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008, so as to increase the pensioner premiums, change the income bands for non-dependant deductions and increase the amounts of the non-dependant deductions themselves.
Regulation 4 amends the State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 so as to increase the amounts prescribed for the savings credit thresholds, including in the case of a polygamous marriage, and to increase the standard minimum guarantee in the case of a polygamous marriage. It also changes the income bands for non-dependant deductions and increases the amounts of the non-dependant deductions themselves.
Regulation 5 amends the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 to change the income bands for non-dependant deductions and to increase the amounts of the non-dependant deductions themselves.
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 (c.8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.