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(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Fund (Maternity and Funeral Expenses) (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 and shall come into operation on 25th October 2004.
(2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.
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(1) The Social Fund (Maternity and Funeral Expenses) (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).
(2) In regulation 6 (entitlement) –
(a) in paragraph (4) –
(i) at the end of sub-paragraph (c) the word “or” shall be omitted, and
(ii) after sub-paragraph (d) there shall be added –“
 ; or
(e) a person ordinarily resident outside the United Kingdom.”; and
(b) for paragraph (7) there shall be substituted the following paragraph –“
(7) Paragraph (6) shall not apply where the close relative who was in closer contact with the deceased than the responsible person or, as the case may be, was in equally close contact with the deceased –
(a) was under the age of 18 at the date of death and was the only close relative (apart from any other person who was under the age of 18 at that date) to whom either sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of paragraph (6) applies; or
(b) is a person ordinarily resident outside the United Kingdom.”.
(3) In regulation 6A(2)(a)(ii) (amount of funeral payment) after “where the burial takes place” there shall be inserted “, or the fees levied by a private grave-digger,”.
(4) This regulation shall apply only in respect of claims for funeral expenses from the social fund where the date of death is on or after 25th October 2004.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 28th September 2004.
John O'Neill
A senior officer of the
Department for Social Development
