Allowing electronic claims for state pension credit in Northern Ireland in response to coronavirus outbreak

New statutory rule

New regulations have been issued in relation to allowing electronic claims for state pension credit in Northern Ireland in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

In force from 27 May 2020, the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (SR.No.87/2020) amends the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 to allow the use of an electronic communication in connection with a claim for state pension credit.

The explanatory note to the Order advises that - 

'Due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in Northern Ireland, an online digital platform has been developed to provide claimants with an additional route for claiming and to ease the operational impacts of the pandemic.'

SR.No.87/2020 is available from legislation.gov.uk

Stop press (18 June 2020) - the Social Security (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Direction (Northern Ireland) 2020 - which is required under regulation 32ZA of and paragraph 2 of Schedule 8D to the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 to give effect to the above provision - came into operation on 17 June 2020 and is available from communities-ni.gov.uk