Citation and commencement

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security, Child Support and Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Decisions and Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016.

(2) These Regulations come into operation–

(a)for the purposes of the provisions specified in paragraph (3) on 11th July 2016;

(b)for all other purposes, on 23rd May 2016.

(3) The specified provisions are–

(a)regulation 2;

(b)regulation 3(4), (5)(c) and (e); and

(c)regulation 5.

Amendment of the Child Support (Maintenance Assessment Procedure) Regulations

2.-(1) The Child Support (Maintenance Assessment Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992(9) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).

(2) In regulation 10(10) (notification of a new or a fresh maintenance assessment) after paragraph (4) add-

"(5) Paragraphs (2) to (4) apply in the case of a decision in respect of which there is no right of appeal as the result of regulation 16A (consideration of revision before appeal) as they apply in the case of a decision which may be appealed under Article 22 of the Order (as it has effect apart from section 10 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000).".

(3) After regulation 16(11) (revision of decisions) insert-

"Consideration of revision before appeal

16A.-(1) This regulation applies in a case where-

(a)the Department gives a person written notice of a decision; and

(b)that notice includes a statement to the effect that there is a right of appeal against the decision only if the Department has considered an application for a revision of the decision.

(2) In a case to which this regulation applies, a person has a right of appeal under Article 22 of the Order against the decision only if the Department has considered on an application whether to revise the decision under Article 18 of the Order.

(3) The notice referred to in paragraph (1) must inform the person of the time limit specified in regulation 16(1) for making an application for a revision.

(4) Where, as the result of paragraph (2), there is no right of appeal against a decision, the Department may treat any purported appeal as an application for a revision under Article 18 of the Order.

(5) In this regulation "decision" means a decision mentioned in Article 22 of the Order (as it has effect apart from section 10 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000).".

(4) In regulation 17 (late application for a revision)-

(a)in paragraph (4)(b) at the end insert "except in a case to which regulation 16A applies"; and

(b)in paragraph (6) after "extension of time" insert ", except in a case to which regulation 16A applies".

Amendment of the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations

3.-(1) The Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999(12) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (9).

(2) In regulation 3(1)(b)(13) (revision of decisions) for "regulation 28(1)(b)", in both places, substitute "regulation 3ZA(3)(b) or 28(1)(b)".

(3) After regulation 3 insert-

"Consideration of revision before appeal

3ZA.-(1) This regulation applies in a case where-

(a)the Department gives a person written notice of a decision under Article 9 or 11 (whether as originally made or as revised under Article 10); and

(b)that notice includes a statement to the effect that there is a right of appeal in relation to the decision only if the Department has considered an application for a revision of the decision.

(2) In a case to which this regulation applies, a person has a right of appeal under Article 13(2) in relation to the decision only if the Department has considered on an application whether to revise the decision under Article 10.

(3) The notice referred to in paragraph (1) must inform the person-

(a)of the time limit specified in regulation 3(1) or (3) for making an application for a revision; and

(b)that, where the notice does not include a statement of the reasons for the decision ("written reasons"), he may, within one month of the date of notification of the decision, request that the Department provide him with written reasons.

(4) Where written reasons are requested under paragraph (3)(b), the Department must provide them within 14 days of receipt of the request or as soon as practicable afterwards.

(5) Where, as a result of paragraph (2), there is no right of appeal against a decision, the Department may treat any purported appeal as an application for a revision under Article 10.".

(4) After regulation 3A(14) (revision of child support decisions) insert-

"Consideration of revision before appeal in relation to certain child support decisions

3B.-(1) This regulation applies in a case where-

(a)the Department gives a person written notice of a decision; and

(b)that notice includes a statement to the effect that there is a right of appeal against the decision only if the Department has considered an application for a revision of the decision.

(2) In a case to which this regulation applies, a person has a right of appeal under Article 22 of the Child Support Order (as substituted by section 10 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000) against the decision only if the Department has considered on an application whether to revise the decision under Article 18 of that Order.

(3) The notice referred to in paragraph (1) must inform the person of the time limit specified in regulation 3A(1)(a) for making an application for a revision.

(4) Where, as the result of paragraph (2), there is no right of appeal against a decision, the Department may treat any purported appeal as an application for revision under Article 18 of the Child Support Order.

(5) In this regulation "decision" means a decision mentioned in Article 22(1)(a) or (b) of the Child Support Order (as substituted by section 10 of the Child Support, Pension and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000).".

(5) In regulation 4 (late application for a revision)-

(a)in paragraph (3)(b)(15) after "regulation" insert "3ZA(3)(b) or";

(b)in paragraph (4)(b) at the end insert ", except in a case to which regulation 3ZA applies";

(c)in paragraph (4)(b) after "regulation 3ZA" insert "or 3B";

(d)in paragraph (6) after "extension of time" insert ", except in a case to which regulation 3ZA applies"; and

(e)in paragraph (6) after "regulation 3ZA" insert "or 3B".

(6) After regulation 9ZA(16) (review of certificates of recoverable lump sum payments) insert-

"Consideration of review before appeal

9ZB.-(1) This regulation applies in a case where-

(a)the Department has issued a certificate of recoverable benefits or certificate of recoverable lump sum payments; and

(b)that certificate is accompanied by a notice to the effect that there is a right of appeal in relation to the certificate only if the Department has considered an application for review of the certificate.

(2) In a case to which this regulation applies, a person has a right of appeal under Article 13 of the Recovery of Benefits Order against the certificate only if the Department has considered an application for review of the certificate under Article 12 of that Order.".

(7) In regulation 25(17) (other persons with a right of appeal) after "Article 13(2)" insert ", but subject to regulation 3ZA".

(8) In regulation 26(18) (decisions against which an appeal lies) at the beginning insert "Subject to regulation 3ZA,".

(9) In regulation 29(19) (further particulars required relating to certificate of recoverable benefits or, as the case may be, recoverable lump sum payments appeals or applications) for paragraph (6) substitute-

"(6) The Department may treat any-

(a)purported appeal (where, as the result of regulation 9ZB(2), there is no right of appeal);

(b)appeal relating to the certificate of recoverable benefits; or

(c)appeal relating to the certificate of recoverable lump sum payments,

as an application for review under Article 12 of the Recovery of Benefits Order.".

Amendment of the Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Claims and Reconsiderations) Regulations

4.-(1) The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Claims and Reconsiderations) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008(20) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) In regulation 4 (reconsideration) for paragraph (1) substitute-

"(1) An application made to the Department for reconsideration of a determination that a payment should or should not be made must–

(a)be made–

(i)within one month of the date of notification of the determination,

(ii)where a written statement is requested under regulation 4B(3) (reconsideration before appeal) and is provided within the period specified in head (i), within 14 days of the expiry of that period,

(iii)where a written statement is requested under regulation 4B(3) and is provided after the period specified in head (i), within 14 days of the date on which the statement is provided, or

(iv)within such longer period as may be allowed under regulation 4A (late application for reconsideration); and

(b)specify the ground for the request and give such other relevant information as the Department may require in order to deal adequately with the reconsideration.".

(3) After regulation 4 insert-

"Late application for reconsideration

4A.  Where, in a case to which regulation 4B (reconsideration before appeal) applies, the Department considers there was good cause for not applying for reconsideration of a determination within the time limit specified in regulation 4(1), it may extend the time limit for such period as it considers appropriate in the circumstances.

Reconsideration before appeal

4B.-(1) This regulation applies in a case where-

(a)the Department gives a person written notice of a determination made on a claim; and

(b)that notice includes a statement to the effect that there is a right of appeal against the determination only if the Department has, on an application, decided whether to reconsider the determination.

(2) In a case to which this regulation applies, a person may appeal under section 5 of the Mesothelioma, etc., Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 against the determination only if the Department has decided on an application whether to reconsider the determination under section 4 of that Act.

(3) The notice referred to in paragraph (1) must inform the person-

(a)of the time limit specified in regulation 4(1) for making an application for reconsideration of the determination; and

(b)that, where the notice does not include a statement of the reasons for the determination ("written reasons"), he may, within one month of the date of notification of the determination, request that the Department provide him with written reasons.

(4) Where written reasons are requested under paragraph (3)(b), the Department must provide them within 14 days of receipt of the request or as soon as practicable afterwards.

(5) Where, as the result of paragraph (2), there is no right of appeal against a determination made on a claim, the Department may treat any purported appeal as an application for reconsideration of the determination under section 4 of that Act.".

Amendment of the Child Support Maintenance Calculation Regulations

5.-(1) The Child Support Maintenance Calculation Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012(21) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) After regulation 14(22) (grounds for revision) insert-

"Consideration of revision before appeal

14A.-(1) This regulation applies in a case where-

(a)the Department gives a person written notice of a decision; and

(b)that notice includes a statement to the effect that there is a right of appeal against the decision only if the Department has considered an application for a revision of the decision.

(2) In a case to which this regulation applies, a person has a right of appeal under Article 22 against the decision only if the Department has considered on an application whether to revise the decision under Article 18.

(3) The notice referred to in paragraph (1) must inform the person of the time limit specified in regulation 14(1) for making an application for a revision.

(4) Where, as the result of paragraph (2), there is no right of appeal against a decision, the Department may treat any purported appeal as an application for revision under Article 18.

(5) In this regulation, "decision" means a decision mentioned in Article 22(1)(a) or (b) (as substituted by section 10 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000).".

(3) In regulation 15 (late application for a revision)-

(a)in paragraph (4)(b) at the end insert ", except in a case to which regulation 14A applies"; and

(b)in paragraph (6) after "extension of time" insert ", except in a case to which regulation 14A applies".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Child Support (Maintenance Assessment Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992, the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 ("the Decisions and Appeals Regulations"), the Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Claims and Reconsiderations) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 ("the Mesothelioma Regulations") and the Child Support Maintenance Calculation Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.

Regulation 3(3) amends the Decisions and Appeals Regulations to enable the Department for Social Development ("the Department") to require a person to apply for a decision to be revised pursuant to Article 10 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 before the person is permitted to appeal to an appeal tribunal.

The restriction applies where the Department gives a person written notice to that effect and, in such cases, a person has a right to appeal only if the Department has considered on an application whether to revise the decision. These Regulations also make provision for the Department to treat a purported appeal as an application for a revision.

The Regulations also make similar changes to Regulations regarding other appeals relating to-

• certain child support decisions;

• certificates of recoverable benefits and certificates of recoverable lump sum payments; and

• payments in respect of mesothelioma.

In relation to appeals relating to child support decisions the changes come into operation on 11th July 2016. For all other appeals the changes come into operation on 23rd May 2016.

These Regulations also make related amendments to enable a person who must apply for a decision to be revised before they are permitted to appeal to request a written statement of reasons for the decision, specify the time within which that statement is to be provided and for extending the time in which a person is able to make an application for a decision to be revised.

Regulation 4 inserts regulation 4A into the Mesothelioma Regulations to enable the Department to extend the time by which a person must apply for reconsideration of a determination.

An assessment of the impact of this instrument has been carried out. Copies of the impact assessment may be obtained from the Better Regulation Unit of the Department for Work and Pensions, 2D Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1 9NA. It is also available alongside this instrument and the Explanatory Memorandum on www.legislation.gov.uk.