
1 
These Regulations may be cited as the Universal Credit (Great Britain Reciprocal Arrangements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and come into operation on 24th July 2020.
2 

(1) The provisions contained in the Memorandum of Reciprocal Arrangements set out in the Schedule shall have effect so far as they relate to Northern Ireland.
(2) The following legislation, and any subordinate legislation made or having effect as if made under that legislation, so far as it relates to Northern Ireland, shall have effect subject to such adaptations as may be required for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions contained in the Memorandum of Reciprocal Arrangements set out in the Schedule—
(a) the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992;
(b) Chapter II (social security decisions and appeals) of Part II (decisions and appeals) of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998;
(c) Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 3rd July 2020
(L.S.)Anne McCleary
A senior officer of the Department for Communities

SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
1 

(1) In this Memorandum—
 “determining authority” means—
(a) in relation to Great Britain, the Secretary of State, the First-Tier Tribunal established under section 3(1) (the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal) of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 or the Upper Tribunal established under section 3(2) of that Act, and
(b) in relation to Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland department having responsibility for social security, an appeal tribunal constituted under Chapter I (general) of Part II (decisions and appeals) of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 or a Commissioner appointed under section 50 (appointment of Commissioners) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992,as the case may require;
 “the relevant legislation” means—
(a) in relation to Great Britain the following legislation and any subordinate legislation made or having effect as if made under that legislation—
(i) the Social Security Administration Act 1992;
(ii) Chapter 2 (social security decisions and appeals) of Part 1 (decisions and appeals) of the Social Security Act 1998;
(iii) the Welfare Reform Act 2012.
(b) in relation to Northern Ireland the following legislation and any subordinate legislation made or having effect as if made under that legislation—
(i) the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992;
(ii) Chapter II (social security decisions and appeals) of Part II (decisions and appeals) of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998;
(iii) the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015,in each case as amended, modified, adapted, extended, supplemented, replaced or consolidated by any subsequent enactment or by any subordinate legislation, but not legislation made for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of any agreement applying to one of the two territories and providing for reciprocity with a scheme of social security in force outside the United Kingdom;
 “territory” means Great Britain or Northern Ireland, as the case may require.
(2) In the application of this Memorandum to a territory, expressions used in this Memorandum shall have the same as in the relevant legislation which relates to that territory.
(3) The rules for the construction of Acts of Parliament and instruments contained in the Interpretation Act 1978 shall apply for the purposes of the interpretation of this Agreement as they apply for the purposes of the interpretation of an Act of Parliament or instrument.
2 

(1) Acts, omissions or events having effect in one territory for the purposes of the relevant legislation are to have corresponding effect in the other territory and in particular—
(a) a claim for universal credit made in one territory has effect as if made in the other;
(b) residence, presence or employment in one territory have effect as if it were residence, presence or employment in the other;
(c) any period of time served for any purpose in one territory has effect as if it were served for a corresponding purpose in the other.
3 
Where the determining authority has made a decision relating to a claim for universal credit arising under or in connection with the relevant legislation, including a decision as revised or superseded,
(a) the decision may be revised or superseded; and
(b) any appeal from the decision may be determined,under and to the extent permitted by the relevant legislation of the territory in which the claimant is, as if the decision had been made in that territory, notwithstanding that the decision was made in the other territory.
4 
The provisions of Articles 2 and 3 of this Memorandum shall not confer a right to double benefit.
5 
The Social Security, Child Support and Pensions Joint Authority shall from time to time determine the administrative procedures appropriate for the purposes of giving effect to the provisions of this Memorandum.
6 
The arrangements in this Memorandum shall come into force on 24th July 2020, but either Party may terminate them by giving not less than 6 months notice in writing to the other.
Justin Tomlinson
Minister of State
Department for Work and Pensions
1st July 2020We consent
Maggi Throup
James Morris
Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury
1st July 2020
Carál Ní Chuilín
Minister for Communities (being the Northern Ireland Minister having responsibility for social security)
1st July 2020The Department of Finance hereby consents
Emer Morelli
A senior officer for the Department of Finance
1st July 2020