In section 5 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (regulations about claims and payments), after subsection (3A) there is inserted—

“(3B)

The power in subsection (1)(i) above to make provision for the person to whom a benefit is to be paid includes, in the case of a benefit awarded to persons jointly, power to make provision for the Secretary of State to determine to which of them all or any part of a payment should be made, and in particular for the Secretary of State—

(a)

to determine that payment should be made to whichever of those persons they themselves nominate, or

(b)

to determine that payment should be made to one of them irrespective of any nomination by them.”