The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Social Fund Maternity Grant) (Amendment) Regulations 2018

Statutory Instruments

2018 No. 989

Social Security

The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Social Fund Maternity Grant) (Amendment) Regulations 2018

Made

10th September 2018

Laid before Parliament

11th September 2018

Coming into force

18th October 2018

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 5(1)(a), 189(1) and (4) and 191 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992(1).

In accordance with section 173(1)(b) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, the Social Security Advisory Committee has agreed that the proposals in respect of these Regulations should not be referred to it.

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Social Fund Maternity Grant) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 and come into force on 18th October 2018.

Amendments to the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987

2.  In Schedule 4 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987(2) (prescribed times for claiming benefit), in each of the entries (a) to (f) in column 2 relating to paragraph 8 (social fund payment in respect of maternity expenses) for “3 months” substitute “6 months”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Justin Tomlinson

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

Department for Work and Pensions

10th September 2018

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the provisions governing the time limits applicable to making a claim for a Sure Start Maternity Grant.

The Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3061) make provision for the payment of Sure Start Maternity Grants. The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1968) (“the Claims and Payments Regulations”) set out the time limits for making a claim for a Sure Start Maternity Grant. Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends Schedule 4 to the Claims and Payments Regulations to extend the period in which claims can be made from 3 months to 6 months after the occurrence of the relevant event giving rise to a claimant becoming responsible for a child.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business, charities or voluntary bodies.

(1)

1992 c. 5. Section 191 is an interpretation provision and is cited for the meaning of the word “prescribed”. There are amendments to sections 5 and 189 which are not relevant to these Regulations.

(2)

S.I. 1987/1968, as amended by S.I. 1997/792, 2010/2760 and 2011/100.