The Social Security (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025
Source: legislation.gov.uk (2025-08-19)

This Order amends a number of provisions in the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (S.R. 1987 No. 465), to allow the use of an electronic communication when making a claim to industrial injuries benefit or employment and support allowance.

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2025 No. 129

Social Security

The Social Security (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

Made

8th July 2025

Coming into operation

1st August 2025

The Department for Communities(1 (\"#f00001\")) makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 1 and 2 of the Electronic Communications Act (Northern Ireland) 2001(2 (\"#f00002\")).

In accordance with section 1(3) of that Act it considers that the authorisation of the use of electronic communications by this Order for any purpose is such that the extent (if any) to which records of things done for that purpose will be available will be no less satisfactory in cases where use is made of electronic communications than in other cases.

Citation and commencementN.I.

1. This Order may be cited as the Social Security (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 and shall come into operation on the same day as the Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025(3 (\"#f00003\")).

Commencement Information

I1Art. 1 in operation at 1.8.2025, see art. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/129/article/1\")

Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) RegulationsN.I.

2.—(1) The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(4 (\"#f00004\")) shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (5).

(2) In regulation 4ZC(2)(5 (\"#f00005\"))(electronic claims for benefit)—

(a)after sub-paragraph (e) insert—

“(ea)employment and support allowance;”; and

(b)after sub-paragraph (f) insert—

“(fa)industrial injuries benefit;”.

(3) In regulation 32ZA(2)(6 (\"#f00006\")) (information given electronically) after sub-paragraph (e) insert —

“(ea)industrial injuries benefit;”.

(4) In the heading of Schedule 8D(7 (\"#f00007\")) after “Regulation 4ZC” insert “and 32ZA”.

(5) In paragraph 2(1)(8 (\"#f00008\")) (conditions for the use of electronic communications) of Schedule 8D (electronic communication) after head (g) insert—

“(ga)industrial injuries benefit;”.

Commencement Information

I2Art. 2 in operation at 1.8.2025, see art. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/129/article/1\")

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 8th July 2025

(L.S.)

David Tarr

A senior officer of the Department for Communities

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends a number of provisions in the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (S.R. 1987 No. 465 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/1987/465\")), to allow the use of an electronic communication when making a claim to industrial injuries benefit or employment and support allowance.

The amendments also allow claimants and the Department to communicate information and evidence in relation to claims and awards of industrial injuries benefit or employment and support allowance by means of an electronic communication.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this Order as no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

(1)

See Article 8(b) of S.R. 1999 No. 481 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/1999/481\") and section 1(7) of the Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (c. 5 (N.I.)) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nia/2016/5\")

(2)

2001 c. 9 (N.I.) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nia/2001/9\")

(3)

S.R. 2025 No. 127 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/127\")

(4)

S.R. 1987 No. 465 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/1987/465\")

(5)

Regulation 4ZC was inserted by Article 2(3) of S.R. 2006 No. 203 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2006/203\") and amended by Article 2(2) of S.R. 2011 No. 298 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2011/298\"), Article 9(5) of S.R. 2015 No. 411 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2015/411\"), Article 10(5) of S.R. 2017 No. 66 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2017/66\"), Article 2(2) of S.R. 2020 No. 87 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2020/87\"), Article 2(2) of S.R. 2020 No. 147 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2020/147\") and Article 2(3) of S.R. 2023 No. 96 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2023/96\")

(6)

Regulation 32ZA was inserted by Article 2(3) of S.R. 2011 No. 298 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2011/298\") to which there are amendments not relevant to this Order

(7)

Schedule 8D was inserted by Article 2(4) of S.R. 2006 No. 203 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2006/203\")

(8)

Paragraph 2(1) was substituted by regulation 2(5)(a) of S.R. 2025 No. 127 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/127\")