The Social Security (Notification of Changes of Circumstances) Regulations 2010

• Citation: S.I. 2010/444
• Sections: 8

Section 1 Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Notification of Changes of Circumstances) Regulations 2010 and come into force on 5th April 2010.

Section 2 Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987

After regulation 32 (information to be given and changes to be notified) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 insert—

Alternative means of notifying changes of circumstances

(32ZZA)

(1) In such cases and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may specify, the duty in regulation 32(1B) to notify a change of circumstances may be discharged by notifying the Secretary of State as soon as reasonably practicable—

(a) where the change of circumstances is a birth or death, through a relevant authority, or a county council in England, by personal attendance at an office specified by that authority or county council, provided the Secretary of State has agreed with that authority or county council for it to facilitate such notification; or

(b) where the change of circumstances is a death, by telephone to a telephone number specified for that purpose by the Secretary of State.

(2) In this regulation “relevant authority” has the same meaning as in the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 and the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 .

Section 3 Amendment of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

After regulation 24 (provision of information and evidence) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 insert—

Alternative means of notifying changes of circumstances

(24A)

(1) In such cases and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may specify, the duty in regulation 24(7) to notify a change of circumstances may be discharged by notifying the Secretary of State as soon as reasonably practicable—

(a) where the change of circumstances is a birth or death, through a relevant authority, or a county council in England, by personal attendance at an office specified by that authority or county council, provided the Secretary of State has agreed with that authority or county council for it to facilitate such notification; or

(b) where the change of circumstances is a death, by telephone to a telephone number specified for that purpose by the Secretary of State.

(2) In this regulation “relevant authority” has the same meaning as in the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 and the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006.

Section 4 Amendment of the Social Security (Notification of Change of Circumstances) Regulations 2001

(1) The Social Security (Notification of Change of Circumstances) Regulations 2001 are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 3 (change affecting jobseeker’s allowance)—

(a) at the beginning of paragraph (1) insert “Subject to paragraph (1A),”;

(b) after paragraph (1) insert—

(1A) In such cases and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may specify, notice may be given to the Secretary of State—

(a) where the change of circumstances is a birth or death, through a relevant authority, or a county council in England, by personal attendance at an office specified by that authority or county council, provided the Secretary of State has agreed with that authority or county council for it to facilitate such notification;

(b) where the change of circumstances is a death, by telephone to a telephone number specified for that purpose by the Secretary of State.

(c) in paragraph (2) for “this regulation” substitute “paragraph (1)”; and

(d) after paragraph (2) insert—

(3) In paragraph (1A) “relevant authority” has the same meaning as in regulation 4(2).

(3) In regulation 4 (change affecting housing benefit or council tax benefit)—

(a) at the beginning of paragraph (1) insert “Subject to paragraph (1A),”;

(b) after paragraph (1) insert—

(1A) In such cases and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may specify, notice may be given to the Secretary of State—

(a) where the change of circumstances is a birth or death, through a relevant authority, or a county council in England, by personal attendance at an office specified by that authority or county council, provided the Secretary of State has agreed with that authority or county council for it to facilitate such notification; or

(b) where the change of circumstances is a death, by telephone to a telephone number specified for that purpose by the Secretary of State.

(1B) Paragraph (1A) only applies if the authority administering the claimant’s housing benefit or council tax benefit agrees with the Secretary of State that notifications may be made in accordance with that paragraph.

(c) in paragraph (2) after “In this regulation” insert ““claimant”,”.

(4) In regulation 5 (change affecting other benefit payment or advantage)—

(a) at the beginning of paragraph (1) insert “Subject to paragraph (1ZZA),”;

(b) after paragraph (1) insert—

(1ZZA) In such cases and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may specify, notice may be given to the Secretary of State—

(a) where the change of circumstances is a birth or death, through a relevant authority, or a county council in England, by personal attendance at an office specified by that authority or county council, provided the Secretary of State has agreed with that authority or county council for it to facilitate such notification; or

(b) where the change of circumstances is a death, by telephone to a telephone number specified for that purpose by the Secretary of State.

(c) for paragraph (2) substitute—

(2) In this regulation—

“the appropriate office” has the same meaning as in the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987;

“relevant authority” has the same meaning as in regulation 4(2).

Section 5 Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006

After regulation 88 (duty to notify changes of circumstances) of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 insert—

Alternative means of notifying changes of circumstances

(88ZA)

(1) In such cases and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may specify, the duty in regulation 88(1) to notify a change of circumstances may be discharged by notifying the Secretary of State—

(a) where the change of circumstances is a birth or death, through a relevant authority, or a county council in England, by personal attendance at an office specified by that authority or county council, provided the Secretary of State has agreed with that authority or county council for it to facilitate such notification; or

(b) where the change of circumstances is a death, by telephone to a telephone number specified for that purpose by the Secretary of State.

(2) Paragraph (1) only applies if the authority administering the claimant’s housing benefit agrees with the Secretary of State that notifications may be made in accordance with that paragraph.

(3) The Secretary of State must forward information received in accordance with paragraph (1) to the authority administering the claimant’s housing benefit.

Section 6 Amendment of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006

After regulation 69 (duty to notify changes of circumstances) of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 insert—

Alternative means of notifying changes of circumstances

(69ZA)

(1) In such cases and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may specify, the duty in regulation 69(1) to notify a change of circumstances may be discharged by notifying the Secretary of State—

(a) where the change of circumstances is a birth or death, through a relevant authority, or a county council in England, by personal attendance at an office specified by that authority or county council, provided the Secretary of State has agreed with that authority or county council for it to facilitate such notification; or

(b) where the change of circumstances is a death, by telephone to a telephone number specified for that purpose by the Secretary of State.

(2) Paragraph (1) only applies if the authority administering the claimant’s housing benefit agrees with the Secretary of State that notifications may be made in accordance with that paragraph.

(3) The Secretary of State must forward information received in accordance with paragraph (1) to the authority administering the claimant’s housing benefit.

Section 7 Amendment of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006

After regulation 74 (duty to notify changes of circumstances) of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 insert—

Alternative means of notifying changes of circumstances

(74ZA)

(1) In such cases and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may specify, the duty in regulation 74(1) to notify a change of circumstances may be discharged by notifying the Secretary of State—

(a) where the change of circumstances is a birth or death, through a relevant authority, or a county council in England, by personal attendance at an office specified by that authority or county council, provided the Secretary of State has agreed with that authority or county council for it to facilitate such notification; or

(b) where the change of circumstances is a death, by telephone to a telephone number specified for that purpose by the Secretary of State.

(2) Paragraph (1) only applies if the authority administering the claimant’s council tax benefit agrees with the Secretary of State that notifications may be made in accordance with that paragraph.

(3) The Secretary of State must forward information received in accordance with paragraph (1) to the authority administering the claimant’s council tax benefit.

Section 8 Amendment of the Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006

After regulation 59 (duty to notify changes of circumstances) of the Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 insert—

Alternative means of notifying changes of circumstances

(59ZA)

(1) In such cases and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may specify, the duty in regulation 59(1) to notify a change of circumstances may be discharged by notifying the Secretary of State—

(a) where the change of circumstances is a birth or death, through a relevant authority, or a county council in England, by personal attendance at an office specified by that authority or county council, provided the Secretary of State has agreed with that authority or county council for it to facilitate such notification; or

(b) where the change of circumstances is a death, by telephone to a telephone number specified for that purpose by the Secretary of State.

(2) Paragraph (1) only applies if the authority administering the claimant’s council tax benefit agrees with the Secretary of State that notifications may be made in accordance with that paragraph.

(3) The Secretary of State must forward information received in accordance with paragraph (1) to the authority administering the claimant’s council tax benefit.