PART 3INFORMATION-SHARING IN RELATION TO WELFARE SERVICES UNDER ARTICLES 121 TO 123 OF THE 2015 ORDER

Supply of relevant information by the Department5.

(1)

The purposes prescribed under Article 121(1) of the 2015 Order (information-sharing in relation to welfare services etc.) in relation to welfare services are—

(a)

determining a person’s eligibility or continued eligibility for—

(i)

a disabled person’s badge or to avail themselves of concessionary travel under the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares scheme;

(ii)

assistance under the Healthy Start scheme; or

(iii)

assistance under discretionary support provision;

(iv)

free school meals provided in accordance with arrangements approved by the Department of Education under Articles 58 and 59 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 198620; or

(v)

clothing provided under a scheme approved by that Department under Article 60 of that Order.

(b)

determining whether to make to any person any grant or payment listed in paragraph (2) and if so the amount of any such grant or payment;

(c)

determining whether a person applying for or receiving a welfare service listed in paragraph (3) is liable to contribute towards the cost of that service and if so the amount of that contribution; and

(d)

identifying, and providing appropriate types of advice, support and assistance to, persons in receipt of a relevant social security benefit who are or may be affected by—

(i)

the benefit cap;

(ii)

regulations relating to under-occupation.

(2)

The grants or payments referred to in paragraph (1)(b) are—

(i)

a grant towards the repair of dwellings under Article 74 of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 199221;

(ii)

a Home Repair Assistance Grant under Chapter IV (Home Repair Assistance) of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 200322;

(iii)

a grant or scheme which requires a determination under the Housing Renewal Grants (Reduction of Grant) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 200423;

(iv)

a domestic energy efficiency improvement grant under the Domestic Energy Efficiency Grants Regulations (Northern Ireland) 200924;

(v)

a discretionary housing payment.

(3)

The welfare services referred to in paragraph (1)(c) are—

(a)

housing support services;

(b)

the provision of domiciliary care;

(c)

the provision of residential care.

(4)

In this regulation—

“discretionary housing payment” means a payment under the Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 200125

“domiciliary care” means care or assistance of any description provided to an adult person by reason of their age, health or any disability, whether provided continuously or not and whether or not provided at a place where they live, but excludes care or assistance provided to a person in residential care.