The Social Fund Maternity Grant Amendment Regulations 2012

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Regulations 2005 (S.I.2005/3061) and make necessary transitional provision.

Regulation 2 substitutes a new regulation 5A of those Regulations which sets out rules for entitlement to a Sure Start Maternity Grant (“a grant”) where another member of the claimant’s family is under the age of 16. New regulation 5A replicates the existing regulation 5A in that it prevents a person being entitled to a Sure Start Maternity Grant where an existing member of their family is under the age of 16. However it also ensures that, for this purpose, a child whose parent is under the age of 20 and a member of the claimant’s family is to be ignored. It also adds an additional exception to provide for entitlement to grants in respect of additional children born as a result of a subsequent multiple birth where there is already a child under the age of 16 in the family. New regulation 5A also provides that the number of grants payable is determined by reference to the number of children under the age of 16 already in the family and the number of children born as a result of the subsequent multiple birth. These amendments have effect subject to the transitional provisions in regulation 3.

A full impact assessment has not been published for this instrument as it has no impact on the private sector or civil society organisations.