Social Security Citation and commencement 1 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Credits) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and shall come into operation on 6th April 2010. Amendment of the Social Security (Credits) Regulations 2 1 The Social Security (Credits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3). 2 In regulation 8B(2) (credits for incapacity for work or limited capability for work)— a for sub-paragraph (a) substitute— a a week in which, in relation to the person concerned, each of the days— i was a day of incapacity for work under section 30C of the Contributions and Benefits Act (incapacity benefit: days and periods of incapacity for work), ii would have been such a day had the person concerned claimed short-term incapacity benefit or maternity allowance within the prescribed time, iii was a day of incapacity for work for the purposes of statutory sick pay under section 147 of the Contributions and Benefits Act (statutory sick pay) and fell within a period of entitlement under section 149 of that Act (period of entitlement), iv was a day of limited capability for work for the purposes of Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act (limited capability for work) or would have been such a day had the person concerned been entitled to an employment and support allowance by virtue of section 1(2)(a) of that Act, or v would have been a day of limited capability for work for the purposes of Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act had that person claimed an employment and support allowance or maternity allowance within the prescribed time; ; b omit sub-paragraph (aa); and c in sub-paragraph (b) for head (ii) substitute— ii Article 12 of the Naval, Military and Air Forces etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 2006 , or . 3 After regulation 9D (credits for certain periods of imprisonment or detention in legal custody), add— Credits for certain spouses and civil partners of members of Her Majesty’s forces 9E 1 For the purposes of entitlement to any benefit by virtue of a person’s earnings or contributions, that person shall, subject to the following paragraphs, be entitled to be credited with earnings equal to the lower earnings limit then in force, in respect of each week to which paragraph (2) applies. 2 This paragraph applies to each week for any part of which the person is— a the spouse or civil partner of a member of Her Majesty’s forces or treated as such by the Secretary of State for the purposes of occupying accommodation, and b accompanying the member of Her Majesty’s forces on an assignment outside the United Kingdom or treated as such by the Secretary of State. 3 The person referred to in paragraph (2) shall be entitled to be credited with earnings in respect of a week by virtue of this regulation only if that person has made an application to the Department for that purpose. 4 An application under paragraph (3) must— a be properly completed and on a form approved by the Department, or in such manner as the Department accepts as sufficient in the particular circumstances, and b include— i a statement confirming that the conditions referred to in paragraph (2) are met and signed by or on behalf of the Defence Council or a person authorised by them, and ii such other information as the Department may require. 5 An application under paragraph (3) is to be made— a once the end date of the assignment referred to in paragraph (2)(b) has been confirmed; or b at such earlier time as the Department is prepared to accept in the particular circumstances of the case. 6 An application in accordance with paragraph (5)(a) must be made before the end of the tax year immediately following the tax year in which the assignment referred to in paragraph (2)(b) ended, or within such further time as may be reasonable in the circumstances of the case. 7 Where the Department accepts an application in accordance with paragraph (5)(b), this regulation entitles the person referred to in paragraph (2) to be credited with earnings in respect of any week subsequent to that application only if that person has made a further application to the Department in accordance with paragraphs (3) to (6). 8 This regulation shall not apply— a to a person in respect of any week where the person is entitled to be credited with earnings under regulation 7A , 8A or 8B in respect of the same week; b to a woman in respect of any week in any part of which she was a married woman in respect of whom an election made by her under regulations made under section 19(4) of the Contributions and Benefits Act (general power to regulate liability for contributions) had effect; or c in respect of any week commencing before 6th April 2010. . Revocations 3 The following regulations are revoked— a regulation 2(3) of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 , and b regulation 7(6)(b)(ii) of the Employment and Support Allowance (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 . Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 16th March 2010 (L.S.) Anne McCleary A senior officer of the Department for Social Development