Citation and interpretation

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (Commencement No. 6 and Saving Provision) Order 2016.

(2) In this Order, "community care grant" and "crisis loan" have the same meaning as in Part 8 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (the social fund)(2).

Provisions coming into force on 28th November 2016

2.-(1) The following provisions of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 come into force on 28th November 2016, in so far as they relate to a community care grant or a crisis loan.

(2) In Part 4 (other benefit changes)-

(a)Articles 76(1) and (3) to (8) (ending of discretionary payments);

(b)paragraphs 1 to 3 of Schedule 8 (social fund discretionary payments: consequential amendments).

(3) In Part 7 of Schedule 12 (repeals: social fund: ending of discretionary payments), the repeals relating to-

(a)the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992;

(b)sections 10 and 147 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992;

(c)Articles 9(1)(b), 10(1), 11(1), 36 and 38 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998.

Provisions coming into force on 31st March 2017

3.-(1) The following provisions of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 come into force on 31st March 2017.

(2) In Part 4 (other benefit changes)-

(a)Article 76(2) (abolition of the social fund commissioner);

(b)paragraph 4 of Schedule 8.

(3) In Part 7 of Schedule 12 (social fund: ending of discretionary payments: repeals), the repeals relating to-

(a)Part 1 of Schedule 4 to the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992;

(b)Article 37 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998;

(c)the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Saving provision

4.  The repeals and amendments made by the provisions brought into force by Article 2 do not apply to an application for a community care grant or crisis loan made before 28th November 2016.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force provisions of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I. 1)) which repeal or amend legislation relating to the social fund and the Office of the Social Fund Commissioner.

Article 2 brings into force on 28th November 2016 repeals and amendments relating to community care grants and crisis loans made out of the social fund.

Article 3 brings into force on 31st March 2017 repeals and amendments relating to the office of the Social Fund Commissioner;

Article 4 makes a saving provision in respect of the repeals commenced by Article 2, so that applications for community care grants and crisis loans made before 28th November 2016 can continue to be determined after that date.

NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT ORDERS

(This note is not part of the Order)