PART IINTRODUCTION

Citation, commencement and effect

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 and, subject to paragraph (2), shall come into operation for the purposes of—

(a)this Article and Articles 2 and 6 on 1st April 2008;

(b)Article 3—

(i)in so far as it relates to any increase to which Article 6(10)(b) applies, on 1st April 2008, and

(ii)for all other purposes, on 7th April 2008;

(c)Article 8, in so far as it relates to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 1st April 2008 and, for the purpose of this sub-paragraph, “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the Computation of Earnings Regulations;

(d)Article 10 on 6th April 2008, except for the purpose of determining the rate of maternity allowance in accordance with section 35A(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(1) for which purpose it shall come into operation on 7th April 2008;

(e)Article 11 on 6th April 2008;

(f)Article 9 on 6th April 2008;

(g)Articles 4, 5, 7, 12 and 13 on 7th April 2008;

(h)Articles 14, 15 and 25 on 10th April 2008;

(i)Articles 16 to 18, in so far as they relate to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 7th April 2008 and, for the purpose of this sub-paragraph, “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the Income Support Regulations;

(j)Articles 19 and 20, in relation to a case where rent is payable at intervals of a week or any multiple thereof, on 7th April 2008, and in relation to any other case, on 1st April 2008;

(k)Articles 21 to 23, in so far as they relate to a particular beneficiary—

(i)for the purposes of Article 21(c), in so far as it relates to an increase to which Article 6(10)(b) applies, on 1st April 2008, and

(ii)for all other purposes, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary, on or after 7th April 2008, and for the purposes of this head “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations; and

(l)Article 24, in so far as it relates to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 7th April 2008 and, for the purpose of this sub-paragraph, “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the State Pension Credit Regulations.

(2) The increases made—

(a)in the sums specified for rates or amounts of benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act or the Pension Schemes Act; and

(b)by Article 21(c), in so far as it is relevant for the purposes referred to in Article 6(10),

shall take effect for each case on the date specified in relation to that case in Article 6.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In this Order—

“the Administration Act” means the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992;

“the Contributions and Benefits Act” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(2);

“the Pension Schemes Act” means the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993(3);

“the Computation of Earnings Regulations” means the Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(4);

“the Housing Benefit Regulations” means the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(5);

“the Housing Benefit (SPC) Regulations” means the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for State Pension Credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006(6);

“the Income Support Regulations” means the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(7);

“the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations” means the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(8);

“the State Pension Credit Regulations” means the State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(9).

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(10) shall apply to this Order as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

(3) For the purposes of this Order and notwithstanding section 39(2) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954, where a period of time is expressed to begin on, or to be reckoned from, a particular day, that day shall be included in the period.