The Social Security Act 1986 (Commencement No. 4) Order 1986

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article 2 of this order appoints 15th March, 6th April and 7th April 1987 as the days for bringing into operation the provisions of the Social Security Act 1986 which are specified in Parts I, II and III, respectively, of the Schedule to this order. Part I concerns the preliminary steps leading to the payment of statutory maternity pay. Part II includes all the other provisions on maternity benefits generally and brings into force social fund payments for maternity and funeral expenses at the same time as the abolition of maternity pay, maternity grant, death grant and child's special allowance except for existing beneficiaries. Part II contains, as well, all those parts of section 51 to 60 of the Act (claims and payments, overpayments and other common provisions), which have not been brought into force by earlier orders except that certain savings are made for social security determinations made before the appointed day (articles 3 and 4) and that the new claims and payments powers in section 51 are applied to statutory sick pay, statutory maternity pay and social fund payments for maternity and funeral expenses, but not to existing benefits generally. As regards income support, family credit and housing benefit, the common provisions in sections 51 to 60 are given effect from 6th April 1987 but will have no practical application until the benefits themselves have been brought into force by means of a further order. Other items in Part II of the Schedule include special provisions relating to statutory sick pay and earnings factors and miscellaneous consequential amendments and repeals. Part III brings into force the repeal of existing regulation-making powers concerning overpayments.