The Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) and Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (S.R. 1987 No. 465) to allow certain persons more time for claiming a Sure Start Maternity Grant (“SSMG”). The persons concerned are those who have been given leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom having left—

• Afghanistan in connection with the fall of the Afghan Government; and

• Ukraine following the Russian invasion of that country,

who have an existing member of their family aged under 16 at the date of claim. Regulation 3(3) makes a related amendment to the Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (S.R. 2005 No. 506) (“the 2005 Regulations”) to enable such persons to claim an SSMG where there is an existing family member who is under the age of 16.

Regulation 3(2) amends the 2005 Regulations to remove the requirement that a person must have obtained the advice of a healthcare professional before claiming an SSMG.

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, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.