Social Security Citation, commencement and interpretation 1 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Prisoners) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and come into operation on 8th April 2020. 1A In these regulations “coronavirus disease” means COVID-19 (the official designation of the disease which can be caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)). 2 The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly. Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, State Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit – definition of prisoner 2 1 Where the Department is satisfied that it is expedient as a result of coronavirus disease and in such cases as the Department determines the Regulations in paragraph (2) are to be read as if the definition of “prisoner” did not include a person on temporary release in accordance with the provisions of the Prison Act (Northern Ireland) 1953 . 2 The regulations are— a the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 ; b the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 ; c the State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 ; d the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 ; and e the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 . Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, State Pension Credit and Employment and Support Allowance - persons treated as being or not being members of the same household 3 Where the Department is satisfied that it is expedient as a result of coronavirus disease and in such cases as the Department determines the following provisions are to be read as if the words “on temporary release in accordance with the provisions of the Prison Act (Northern Ireland) 1953” were omitted— a regulation 16(3)(b) of the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 ; b regulation 78(3)(b) of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996; c regulation 5(1)(c) of the State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003; and d regulation 156(4)(b) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008. Jobseekers Allowance – availability for employment 4 Where the Department is satisfied that it is expedient as a result of coronavirus disease and in such cases as the Department determines regulation 15(1) of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 is to be read as if the words in sub-paragraph (b) were omitted. Housing Benefit – modification of the rule on whether a person is or is not to be treated as occupying a dwelling as their home 5 For the purposes of entitlement to housing benefit, where the Department is satisfied that it is expedient as a result of coronavirus disease and in such cases as the Department determines, the following provisions are to be read as if the words in sub-paragraph (b) were omitted— a regulation 7(14) of the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 ; and b regulation 7(14) of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 . Expiry 6 1 The Department must keep the operation of these Regulations under review. 2 These Regulations cease to have effect on 31st August 2021 . Signed by the authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Will Quince Minister for Welfare Delivery Department for Work and Pensions