Regulations made by the Department for Communities and laid before the Assembly under section 51(3) of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 for approval of the Assembly before the expiration of six months from the date of their coming into operation
2025 No. 67
Social Security
The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
Made 26th March 2025
Coming into operation 7th April 2025

The Department for Communities makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 70(8), 113(1)(a) and 171(1), (3) and (4) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, sections 5(1)(q), 135(3) and 165(1), (4) and (5) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 and now vested in it and sections 20(1) and 51(6) of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.

These Regulations contain provisions in consequence of an order under sections 132 and 132A of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992.
Citation, commencement and interpretation
1 

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 and shall come into operation on 7th April 2025.
(2) In these Regulations “the Up-rating Order” means the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2025.
(3) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.
Exceptions relating to payment of additional benefit by virtue of the Up-rating Order
2 
Section 135(3) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (effect of alteration of rates of benefit under Parts II to V of the Contributions and Benefits Act) shall not apply if a question arises as to either—
(a) the weekly rate at which the benefit is payable by virtue of the Up-rating Order; or
(b) whether the conditions for receipt of the benefit at the altered rate are satisfied,until that question has been determined in accordance with the provisions of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998.
Persons not ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland
3 
Regulation 5 of the Social Security Benefit (Persons Abroad) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1978 (application of disqualification in respect of up-rating of benefit) and regulation 21 of the State Pension Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (entitlement to state pension for overseas residents) shall apply to any additional benefit payable by virtue of the Up-rating Order and to any up-rating increase as defined in section 22(1) of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 respectively.
Amendment of the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Regulations
4 
In regulation 8(1) of the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1976 (circumstances in which a person is or is not to be treated as gainfully employed) for “£151” substitute “£196”.
Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations
5 
In paragraph 4(2A) of Schedule 8A to the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (deductions from benefits and direct payment to third parties) for “£31.75”, in each place it occurs, substitute “£32.30”.
Revocation
6 
The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 are revoked.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 26th March 2025
(L.S.)Patrick Rooney
A senior officer of the Department for Communities
