
1 
These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Notification of Change of Circumstances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 and shall come into operation on 6th January 2004.
2 
In regulation 32 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (information to be given and changes to be notified) for paragraph (1B) there shall be substituted the following paragraph –“
(1B) Except in the case of a jobseeker’s allowance, every beneficiary and every person by whom, or on whose behalf, sums by way of benefit are receivable shall notify the Department of any change of circumstances which he might reasonably be expected to know might affect –
(a) the continuance of entitlement to benefit; or
(b) the payment of the benefit,
as soon as reasonably practicable after the change occurs by giving notice of the change to the appropriate office –
(i) in writing or by telephone (unless the Department determines in any particular case that notice must be in writing or may be given otherwise than in writing or by telephone); or
(ii) in writing if in any class of case it requires written notice (unless it determines in any particular case to accept notice given otherwise than in writing).”.
3 
In regulation 5(1) of the Social Security (Notification of Change of Circumstances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (change affecting other benefit, payment or advantage) for “or sent to the Department in writing (except where it determines in any particular case that it will accept a notice other than in writing) at the appropriate office” there shall be substituted“
to the Department at the appropriate office –
(a) in writing or by telephone (unless the Department determines in any particular case that notice must be in writing or may be given otherwise than in writing or by telephone); or
(b) in writing if in any class of case it requires written notice (unless it determines in any particular case to accept notice given otherwise than in writing)
”.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 10th December 2003.
John Deery
Senior Officer of the
Department for Social Development
