These Regulations implement Council Directive 79/7/EEC (OJNo. L 6, 10.1.79, p. 24) on the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women on matters of social security, by removing certain age differences between men and women in the conditions of entitlement to severe disablement allowance and invalid care allowance.

Regulation 2 amends sections 68 and 70 of, and Schedule 6 to, the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 by removing references to “pensionable age” and “retiring age”(which are different for men and women) and substituting “the age of 65”.

Regulation 3 makes consequential amendments to Schedules 1 and 2 to the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994.

Regulations 4 and 5 substitute “the age of 65” for the terms “pensionable age” and “retiring age” in the Social Security (Severe Disablement Allowance) Regulations 1984 and the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Regulations 1976. They also insert in those regulations transitional provisions relating to persons over 65 on the coming into force of these Regulations.

These Regulations do not impose any costs on business.