2021 No. 267
The Social Security Benefits (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021
Made
Coming into operation
Citation and commencement1
1
These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security Benefits (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 and come into operation on 18th October 2021.
2
These Regulations apply to payment of the following benefits—
a
attendance allowance;
b
carer’s allowance;
c
disability living allowance;
d
industrial injuries disablement benefit;
e
severe disablement allowance;
f
social fund cold weather payment;
g
social fund funeral payment;
h
social fund payment in respect of maternity expenses; and
i
social fund winter fuel payment.
Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations2
1
The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 19873 are amended in accordance with paragraph (2).
2
After Regulation 21 (Direct credit transfer) insert—
Payment of arrears of benefit by instalments21ZA
1
Except where Regulation 23 (Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance) applies, the Department may pay arrears of benefit in instalments where—
a
the Department considers it is necessary for protecting the interests of the beneficiary; and
b
the beneficiary agrees that those arrears may be paid in instalments.
Amendment of the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations3
1
The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 20164 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (5).
2
In Regulation 42 (Payment of universal credit), after paragraph (6), insert—
6A
The Department may pay arrears of universal credit in instalments where—
a
the Department considers it is necessary for protecting the interests of the claimant or, in the case of joint claimants, either of the claimants; and
b
the claimant agrees, or in the case of joint claimants, both claimants agree, that those arrears must be paid in instalments.
3
In Regulation 43 (Payment of personal independence payment), after paragraph (3), insert—
4
The Department may pay arrears of personal independence payment in instalments where—
a
the department considers it is necessary for protecting the interests of the claimant; and
b
the claimant agrees that those arrears may be paid in instalments.
4
In Regulation 46 (Payment of an employment and support allowance), after paragraph 10, insert—
11
The Department may pay arrears of employment and support allowance in instalments where—
a
the department considers it is necessary for protecting the interests of the claimant; and
b
the claimant agrees that those arrears may be paid in instalments.
5
In Regulation 47 (Payment of a jobseeker’s allowance), after paragraph 6, insert—
7
The Department may pay arrears of jobseeker’s allowance in instalments where—
a
the department considers it is necessary for protecting the interests of the claimant; and
b
the claimant agrees that those arrears may be paid in instalments.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 22nd September 2021
(This note is not part of the Regulations)