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

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

(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.”.

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

(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.”

(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.”; and

(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.”; and

(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).”.

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

(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.”.

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—

(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.”.

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

(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.”.

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—

(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.”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Jim Knight

Minister of State

Department for Work and Pensions

23rd February 2010

These Regulations amend the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 (SI 1987/1968), the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/207), the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/213), the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/214), the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/215) and the Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/216).

They also amend the Social Security (Notification of Change of Circumstances) Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/3252) which prescribe the person to whom and manner in which a change of circumstances must be notified for the purposes of sections 111A and 112 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (offences relating to failure to notify a change of circumstances).

The amendments allow for alternative methods of discharging the duty to notify a change of circumstances which may affect entitlement to, or payment of, benefit. These alternative methods of notification only apply to a change of circumstances which is a birth or death.

In relation to housing benefit and council tax benefit, the alternative notification methods may only be used to discharge the duty to notify a change of circumstances where the authority administering the claimant's housing benefit or council tax benefit has agreed with the Secretary of State that notifications may be made by such alternative methods.

Guidance setting out the conditions under which these alternative methods may be used will be made available at offices of the Department for Work and Pensions, on the Department's publicly accessible website and at participating local authority offices.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the private or voluntary sectors.