PART 1 GENERAL

Citation, commencement and effect

1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance (Administration) Regulations 2003 and shall come into force on 7th April 2003 immediately after the commencement of section 50 of the Tax Credits Act 2002( 1 ) for the purposes of entitlement to payment of child benefit and guardian’s allowance.

(2) These Regulations have effect only in relation to—

(a) child benefit and guardian’s allowance under the Contributions and Benefits Act; and

(b) child benefit and guardian’s allowance under the Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations—

“the adjudicating authority” means—

“the Administration Act” means the Social Security Administration Act 1992( 4 );

“the Administration (NI) Act” means the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992( 5 );

“appropriate office” means—

“the approved form” has the meaning given by regulation 5(1)(a);

“the Board” means the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs ;

“civil partnership” means two people ... who are civil partners of each other and are neither—

“cohabiting couple” means two people who are not a married couple or in a civil partnership but are living together as if they were married or civil partners;

“the Contributions and Benefits Act” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992( 6 );

“the Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992( 7 );

“interim payment” has the meaning given by regulation 22(1);

“married couple” means a man and a woman who are married to each other and are neither—

“partner” means a member of a married couple, a civil partnership or a cohabiting couple ;

“relevant authority” means—

...

“writing” includes writing produced by electronic communications used in accordance with Schedule 2.

Use of electronic communications

3.Schedule 2 (the use of electronic communications) has effect.

Notification for purposes of sections 111A and 112 of the Administration Act and sections 105A and 106 of the Administration (NI) Act

4. —(1) This regulation prescribes the person to whom, and manner in which, a change of circumstances must be notified for the purposes of sections 111A(1A) to (1G) and 112(1A) to (1F) of the Administration Act( 8 ) and sections 105A(1A) to (1G) and 106(1A) to (1F) of the Administration (NI) Act (offences relating to failure to notify a change of circumstances)( 9 ).

(2) Notice of the change of circumstances must be given to the Board, or, where relevant, a relevant authority, in writing (except where they determine or it determines, in any particular case, that they or it will accept a notice other than in writing) by delivering or sending it to an appropriate office.

PART 2 CLAIMS AND AWARDS

Making a claim

5.—(1) A claim, or an extension of a claim, for child benefit or guardian’s allowance must be made—

(a) to the Board, in writing and completed on a form approved or authorised by the Board for the purpose of the claim; or

(b) in such other manner as the Board may decide having regard to all the circumstances.

(2) The person making the claim must deliver or send it to an appropriate office.

(3) Subject to regulation 10, the claim is made on the date on which it is received by the appropriate office.

Time within which claims to be made

6.—(1) The time within which a claim for child benefit or guardian’s allowance is to be made is 3 months beginning with any day on which, apart from satisfying the conditions for making the claim, the person making the claim is entitled to the benefit or allowance.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply where—

(a) a person has been awarded child benefit or guardian’s allowance while he was present and residing in Great Britain, or Northern Ireland;

(b) at a time when payment of the award has not been suspended or terminated (under regulations 18 to 20 of the Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2003 or otherwise), he takes up residence in Northern Ireland, or Great Britain as the case may be (“the new country of residence”); and

(c) a new claim for that benefit or allowance is made in the new country of residence, for a period commencing on the later of—

(i) the date of the change of residence referred to in sub-paragraph (b), or

(ii) the date on which, apart from satisfying the conditions for making the claim, the person became entitled to the benefit or allowance under the legislation of the new country of residence.

(d) a person who has claimed asylum and, on or after 6th April 2004, makes a claim for that benefit or allowances and satisfies the following conditions—

(i) the person is notified that he has been recorded as a refugee by the Secretary of State; and

(ii) he claims that benefit or allowance within 3 months of receiving that notification.

(e) a person who has been granted section 67 leave makes a claim for that benefit or allowance within three months of receiving notification from the Secretary of State of the grant of that leave.

(3) In a case falling within paragraph (2)(d) or (2)(e) the person making the claim shall be treated as having made it on the date when he submitted his claim for asylum.

(4) In this regulation “section 67 leave” means leave to remain in the United Kingdom granted by the Secretary of State to a person who has been relocated to the United Kingdom pursuant to arrangements made by the Secretary of State under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.

Evidence and information

7.—(1) The Board may require the person making the claim for child benefit or guardian’s allowance to supply such information or evidence in connection with the claim, or any questions arising out of it, as the Board considers reasonable.

(2) A person required under paragraph (1) to furnish ... information and evidence must do so—

(a) within one month of being required by the Board to do so; or

(b) within such longer period as the Board may consider reasonable.

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Amending claims

8. —(1) A person who has made a claim for child benefit or guardian’s allowance may amend it by giving to the Board or a relevant authority notice in writing in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) A notice under paragraph (1) must be delivered or sent to an appropriate office at any time before a determination has been made on the claim.

(3) The Board may treat a claim amended in accordance with this regulation as if it had been so amended when first made.

Withdrawing claims

9.—(1) A person who has made a claim for child benefit or guardian’s allowance may withdraw it by giving notice—

(a) in writing to the Board,

(b) by telephone to the Board, or

(c) in such other manner as the Board may accept as sufficient in the circumstances of the particular case.

(2) A notice of withdrawal given in accordance with paragraph (1)(a) has effect when it is received by an appropriate office.

Defective applications

10. —(1) If an appropriate office receives a defective application, the Board or the relevant authority may refer it back to the person making it or supply him with the approved form for completion.

(2) Where—

(a) in accordance with paragraph (1), a defective application has been referred back, or an approved form supplied, to a person; and

(b) a claim is received by an appropriate office—

(i) within the period of one month beginning with the date on which the defective application was referred back or the approved form was supplied; or

(ii) within such longer period as the Board may consider reasonable,

the claim shall be treated as having been made on the date on which the appropriate office received the defective application.

(3) “Defective application” means an intended claim which—

(a) is made on an approved form which has not been completed in accordance with the instructions on it; or

(b) is in writing but is not made on the approved form.

Claims for child benefit treated as claims for guardian’s allowance and vice versa

11. —(1) Where it appears to the Board that a person who has made a claim for child benefit in respect of a child or qualifying young person may be entitled to guardian’s allowance in respect of the same child or qualifying young person , the Board may treat, either in the alternative or in addition, the claim as being a claim for guardian’s allowance by that person.

(2) Where it appears to the Board that a person who has made a claim for guardian’s allowance in respect of a child or qualifying young person may be entitled to child benefit in respect of the same child or qualifying young person , the Board may treat, either in the alternative or in addition, the claim as being a claim for child benefit by that person.

Advance claims and awards

12. —(1) This regulation applies where a person who has made a claim for child benefit or guardian’s allowance does not satisfy the requirements for entitlement on the date on which the claim is made.

(2) If the Board are of the opinion that, unless there is a change of circumstances, the person will satisfy those requirements for a period beginning with a date (“the relevant date”) not more than 3 months after the date on which the claim is made, they—

(a) may treat the claim as if made for a period beginning with the relevant date; and

(b) may award the benefit or allowance accordingly, subject to the condition that the person satisfies the requirements for entitlement when the benefit or allowance becomes payable under the award.

(3) If the requirements for entitlement are found not to have been satisfied on the relevant date, a decision under paragraph (2)(b) to award benefit may be revised under—

(a) in relation to child benefit and guardian’s allowance under the Contributions and Benefits Act, section 9 of the Social Security Act 1998( 10 );

(b) in relation to child benefit and guardian’s allowance under the Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act, Article 10 the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998( 11 ).

Date of entitlement under an award for the purposes of payability

13. —(1) This regulation applies where child benefit or guardian’s allowance is awarded for a period of a week or weeks and the earliest date on which entitlement would commence is not a Monday.

(2) For the purposes of determining the day from which the benefit or allowance is to become payable, entitlement shall be treated as beginning on the Monday next following the earliest date referred to in paragraph (1).

Effective date of change of rate

14. Where a change in the rate of child benefit or guardian’s allowance would take effect, but for this regulation, on a day which would not be the appropriate pay day for the benefit or allowance, the change shall take effect from the appropriate pay day next following.

Duration of claims and awards

15. —(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a claim for child benefit or guardian’s allowance shall be treated as made for an indefinite period and any award shall be made for an indefinite period.

(2) If it would be inappropriate to treat a claim as made and to make an award for an indefinite period (for example, where a relevant change of circumstances is reasonably to be expected in the near future), the claim shall be treated as made for a definite period which is appropriate in the circumstances and any award shall be made for that period.

(3) In any case where benefit or allowance is awarded in respect of days subsequent to the date on which the claim was made, the award shall be subject to the condition that the person by whom the claim was made satisfies the requirements for entitlement.

PART 3 PAYMENTS

Payment by direct credit transfer

16.—(1) Child benefit or guardian’s allowance shall be paid in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (6) unless paid in accordance with regulation 17.

(2) Payment of child benefit or guardian’s allowance ... shall be made by direct credit transfer into a bank or other account that the person entitled to the benefit or allowance has notified to the Board for the purpose of payment of—

(a) a benefit described in section 5(2) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992;

(b) a benefit described in section 5(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland Act) 1992; or

(c) a tax credit described in section 1 of the Tax Credits Act 2002,

to which that person is entitled.

(3) If a person entitled to child benefit is also entitled to guardian’s allowance, the allowance shall be paid into the same bank or other account as that into which the child benefit is paid under this regulation.

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) Subject to paragraph (6), the benefit or allowance shall be paid within seven days of the last day of each successive period of entitlement.

(6) The Board may make a particular payment by direct credit transfer otherwise than is provided by paragraph (5) if it appears to them appropriate to do so for the purpose of—

(a) paying any arrears of benefit or allowance, or

(b) making a payment in respect of a terminal period of an award for any similar purpose.

Payment by other means

17.—(1) Child benefit or guardian’s allowance may be paid by a means other than by direct credit transfer where it appears to the Board to be appropriate to do so in the circumstances of a particular case.

(2) If a person entitled to child benefit is also entitled to guardian’s allowance, the allowance shall be paid in the same manner as that in which the child benefit is paid under this regulation.

(3) An instrument of payment issued by the Board pursuant to this regulation shall—

(a) remain the property of the Board, and

(b) be returned immediately to the Board (or such person as the Board may direct) if the person who has the instrument—

(i) is required to do so by the Board; or

(ii) ceases to be entitled to any part of the benefit or allowance to which the instrument relates.

Time of payment

18. —(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), child benefit and guardian’s allowance shall be paid in accordance with an award as soon as reasonably practicable after the award has been made.

(2) Child benefit shall be paid—

(a) if a person entitled to it makes an election under regulation 19 or 20, weekly beginning with the first convenient date after the election has been made;

(b) in any other case, in the last week of each successive period of four weeks of the period of entitlement.

(3) Where benefit is paid at four-weekly intervals in accordance with paragraph (2)(b), the Board must arrange for it to be paid weekly if they are satisfied that payment at intervals of four weeks is causing hardship.

(4) If a person who has made a claim for child benefit is also entitled to guardian’s allowance, the allowance shall be paid at the same intervals as the child benefit.

(5) The Board must take steps to notify persons to whom child benefit or guardian’s allowance is payable of the arrangements they have made for payment in so far as those arrangements affect those persons.

Persons who may elect to have child benefit paid weekly

19. —(1) A person may make an election under this regulation to have child benefit paid weekly if—

(a) he is a lone parent; or

(b) he or his partner is receiving—

(i) income support; ...

(ii) an income-based allowance payable under Part 1 of the Jobseekers Act 1995( 12 ) or Part 2 of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995( 13 ) ;

(iii) an income-related employment and support allowance within the meaning in Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 or Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007; ...

(iv) a state pension credit within the meaning in the State Pension Credit Act 2002 or the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 ; or

(v) universal credit under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 or Part 2 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015.

(2) “Lone parent” means a person who has no partner and is entitled to child benefit in respect of a child or qualifying young person for whom he is responsible.

(3) A person making an election under this regulation—

(a) must furnish, in such manner and at such times as the Board may determine, such certificates, documents, other information or facts as the Board may require which may affect his right to receive payment of the benefit weekly; and

(b) as soon as reasonably practicable after any change of circumstances which he might reasonably be expected to know might affect that right, must notify the Board in writing of that change in accordance with paragraph (4).

(4) A notification under paragraph (3)(b) must be delivered or sent to an appropriate office as regards the Board.

Elections for weekly payment by persons to whom child benefit was payable for a period beginning before and ending after 15th March 1982

20. —(1) This regulation applies to a person to whom child benefit is payable for an uninterrupted period beginning before and ending after 15th March 1982.

(2) A person to whom this regulation applies may make an election to have the benefit paid weekly after 15th March 1982 if—

(a) he makes it before the end of the period of 26 weeks beginning with the day on which benefit was payable for the first four weeks in respect of which arrangements for four-weekly payment were made;

(b) in the case of benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act, he was absent from Great Britain on 15th March 1982 for any of the reasons specified in paragraph (3) and he makes the election before the end of the period of 26 weeks beginning with the first week in respect of which benefit became payable to him in Great Britain on his return; or

(c) in the case of benefit under the Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act, he was absent from Northern Ireland on 15th March 1982 for any of the reasons specified in paragraph (3) and he makes the election before the end of the period of 26 weeks beginning with the first week in respect of which benefit became payable to him in Northern Ireland on his return.

(3) The reasons specified in this paragraph are that the person—

(a) was a serving member of the forces;

(b) was the spouse of such a serving member; or

(c) was living with such a serving member as husband or wife.

(4) “Serving member of the forces” means a person, other than one mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 6 to the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001( 14 ), who, being over the age of 16 years, is a member of any establishment or organisation specified in Part 1 of that Schedule (being a member who gives full pay service) but does not include any such person while absent on desertion.

Manner of making elections under regulations 19 and 20

21. —(1) This regulation applies to elections under regulations 19 and 20.

(2) An election—

(a) must be made by notice in writing to the Board; and

(b) must be delivered or sent to an appropriate office as regards the Board.

(3) An election is made on the date on which it is received by the appropriate office.

(4) Where a person has made an election, child benefit is payable weekly so long as—

(a) he remains continually entitled to it; and

(b) in the case of an election under regulation 19, the conditions specified in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) of that regulation continue to be satisfied.

(5) A person who has made an election may cancel it at any time by giving to the Board a notice in writing which must be sent or delivered to an appropriate office as regards the Board.

(6) The Board must give effect to a notice given in accordance with paragraph (5) as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving it.

Interim payments

22.—(1) If the condition in any sub-paragraph of paragraph (1A) is satisfied, the Board may make a payment on account (“an interim payment”) of any child benefit or guardian’s allowance to which it appears to them that a person—

(a) is or may be entitled,

(b) where sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (1A) applies, would or might be entitled, were a claim made,

(c) where sub-paragraph (b) of that paragraph applies, would or might be entitled, were the national insurance number condition satisfied.

(1A) The conditions are that—

(a) a claim for benefit or allowance has not been made in accordance with these Regulations and it is impracticable for such a claim to be made immediately;

(b) a claim has been made in accordance with these Regulations, the conditions of entitlement are satisfied other than the national insurance number condition, and it is impracticable for that condition to be satisfied immediately;

(c) a claim for the benefit or allowance has been so made but it is impracticable for it, or an application or appeal relating to it, to be determined immediately;

(d) an award of the benefit or allowance has been made but it is impracticable for the person entitled to it to be paid immediately other than by means of an interim payment.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply pending the determination of an appeal ....

(3) On or before the making of an interim payment, the Board must give the person to whom payment is to be made notice in writing of his liability under regulations 41 and 42 to have it brought into account and to repay any overpayment.

(4) In this regulation “the national insurance number condition” means the condition imposed—

(a) in Great Britain, by section 13(1A) and (1B), of the Administration Act (requirement for claim to be accompanied by details of national insurance number);

(b) in Northern Ireland, by section 11(1A) and (1B) of the Administration ( NI ) Act.

Information to be given and changes to be notified

23. —(1) This regulation applies to any person entitled to child benefit or guardian’s allowance and any person by whom, or on whose behalf, payments of such benefit or allowance are receivable.

(2) A person to whom this regulation applies must furnish in such manner and at such times as the Board may determine such information or evidence as the Board may require for determining whether a decision on an award—

(a) in relation to benefit or allowance under the Contributions and Benefits Act, should be revised under section 9 or superseded under section 10 of the Social Security Act 1998( 15 );

(b) in relation to benefit or allowance under the Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act, should be revised under Article 10 or superseded under Article 11 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998( 16 ).

(3) A person to whom this regulation applies must furnish in such manner and at such times as the Board may determine such information and evidence as the Board may require in connection with the payment of the benefit or allowance.

(3A) Where a person is in receipt of a benefit or allowance by means other than a direct credit transfer, in accordance with regulation 17, that person must, if required, within such time as the Board may determine, provide details of a bank or other account to which payment can be made.

(4) A person to whom this regulation applies must notify the Board or a relevant authority of any change of circumstances which he might reasonably be expected to know might affect—

(a) the continuance of entitlement to the benefit or allowance; or

(b) the payment of it,

as soon as reasonably practicable after the change occurs.

(5) A notification under paragraph (4)—

(a) must be given by notice in writing or orally; and

(b) must be sent, delivered or given to the appropriate office.

Fractional amounts of benefit or allowance

24. Where the amount of any child benefit or guardian’s allowance payable includes a fraction of a penny, that fraction—

(a) if it is less than a half, shall be disregarded;

(b) if it is a half or more, shall be treated as a whole penny.

Payments to persons under the age of 18 years

25. Where a sum of child benefit or guardian’s allowance is paid to a person under the age of 18 years (whether on his own behalf or on behalf of another), either of the following is a sufficient discharge to the Board for the sum paid—

(a) a direct credit transfer under regulation 16 into the person’s account;

(b) the receipt by the person of a payment made by some other means.

Extinguishment of right to payment if payment is not obtained within the prescribed period

26.—(1) A person’s right to payment of any sum of child benefit or guardian’s allowance shall be extinguished if payment of that sum has not been obtained within 12 months of the issue by the Board of a cheque or other instrument of payment to that person.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) This regulation has effect in relation to a person authorised or appointed to act on behalf of a person entitled to child benefit or guardian’s allowance in the same manner as it has effect in relation to such a person.

PART 4 THIRD PARTIES

Persons who may act on behalf of those unable to act

27. —(1) Anything required by these regulations to be done by or to any person who is for the time being unable to act may be done by or to—

(a) in England and Wales, a receiver appointed by the Court of Protection with power to claim, or, as the case may be, receive, the benefit or allowance on behalf of the person;

(b) in Scotland, a guardian acting or appointed under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 who is administering the estate of the person;

(c) in Northern Ireland, a controller appointed by the High Court, with power to claim, or, as the case may be, receive, the benefit or allowance on behalf of the person; or

(d) a person appointed under regulation 28(2) to act on behalf of the person.

(2) Where a sum of child benefit or guardian’s allowance is paid to a receiver or other person mentioned in paragraph (1)(a), (b), (c) or (d), either of the following is a sufficient discharge to the Board for the sum paid—

(a) a direct credit transfer under regulation 16 into the person’s account;

(b) the receipt by the person of a payment made by some other means.

Appointment of persons to act on behalf of those unable to act

28. —(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) a person is for the time being unable to act;

(b) the person is, or is alleged to be, entitled to child benefit or guardian’s allowance (whether or not a claim for the benefit or allowance has been made by him or on his behalf); and

(c) no receiver or other person mentioned in regulation 27(1)(a), (b) or (c) has been appointed in relation to the person.

(2) The Board may appoint a person who—

(a) has applied in writing to them to act on behalf of the person who is unable to act, and

(b) if a natural person, is over the age of 18 years,

to exercise, on behalf of the person who is unable to act, any right relating to child benefit or guardian’s allowance to which that person may be entitled and to receive and deal on his behalf with any sums payable to him in respect of the benefit or allowance.

(3) Where an appointment has been made under paragraph (2)—

(a) the Board may at any time revoke it; and

(b) the person appointed may resign from the appointment after having given one month’s notice in writing to the Board of his intention to do so.

(4) An appointment made under paragraph (2) shall terminate when the Board are notified that a receiver or other person mentioned in regulation 27(1)(a), (b) or (c) has been appointed.

Persons who may proceed with a claim made by a person who has died

29. —(1) The Board may appoint such person as they think fit to proceed with a claim for child benefit or guardian’s allowance , and to deal with any issue related to the revision of, supersession of, or appeal in connection with a decision on, that claim which has been made by a person who has died.

(2) Subject to regulation 32(2), the Board may pay or distribute any sum payable under an award on a claim proceeded with under paragraph (1) to or among—

(a) persons over the age of 16 years claiming as personal representatives, legatees, next of kin or creditors of the person who has died; and

(b) if the person who has died was illegitimate, any other persons over that age.

(3) “Next of kin” means—

(a) in England and Wales, and in Northern Ireland, the persons who would take beneficially on an intestacy;

(b) in Scotland, the persons entitled to the moveable estate of the deceased on intestacy.

(4) Where a sum is paid under paragraph (2) to a person, either of the following is a sufficient discharge to the Board for the sum paid—

(a) a direct credit transfer under regulation 16 into the person’s account;

(b) the receipt by the person of a payment made by some other means.

(5) If the Board consider that a sum or part of a sum which may be paid or distributed under paragraph (2) is needed for the benefit of a person under the age of 16 years, they may obtain a good discharge for that sum by paying it to a person over that age whom they are satisfied will apply the sum for the benefit of the person under that age.

(6)Regulation 26 (extinguishment of right) applies to a payment or distribution made under paragraph (2).

Persons who may receive payments which a person who has died had not obtained

30. —(1) This regulation applies where a person who has died had not obtained at the date of his death a sum of child benefit or guardian’s allowance which was payable to him.

(2) Subject to regulation 32(2), the Board may, unless the right to payment had already been extinguished at the date of death, pay or distribute the sum to or amongst the persons mentioned in regulation 29(2)(a) and (b).

(3)Regulation 26 (extinguishment of right) applies to a payment or distribution made under paragraph (2), except that, for the purposes of paragraph (1) of that regulation, the period of 12 months shall be calculated from the date on which the right to payment is treated as having arisen to the person to whom the payment or distribution is made (and not from the date on which that right is treated as having arisen in relation to the person who has died).

Person who may make a claim on behalf of a person who has died

31. —(1) If the conditions specified in paragraph (2) are satisfied, a claim may be made in the name of a person who has died for any child benefit or guardian’s allowance to which he would have been entitled if he had claimed it in accordance with these Regulations.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the following conditions are specified in this paragraph—

(a) within 6 months of the date of death an application must have been made in writing to the Board for a person, whom the Board think fit to be appointed to make the claim, to be so appointed;

(b) a person must have been appointed by the Board to make the claim; and

(c) the person so appointed must have made the claim not more than 6 months after the appointment.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), if the Board certify that to do so would be consistent with the proper administration of the Contributions and Benefits Act, the period of 6 months mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) or (c) shall be extended by such period (not exceeding 6 months) as may be specified in the certificate.

(4) If a certificate given under paragraph (3) specifies a period by which the period of 6 months mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) shall be extended, the period of 6 months mentioned in paragraph (2)(c) shall be shortened by a period corresponding to the period so specified.

(5) No certificate shall be given under paragraph (3) which would enable a claim to be made more than 12 months after the date of death.

• For the purposes of this paragraph, any period between the date on which the application for a person to be appointed to make the claim is made and the date on which that appointment is made shall be disregarded.

(6) A claim made in accordance with this regulation shall be treated for the purposes of these Regulations as if it had been made on the date of his death by the person who has died.

Regulations 29, 30 and 31: supplementary

32. —(1) The Board may dispense with strict proof of the title of a person claiming in accordance with regulation 29, 30 or 31.

(2) Neither paragraph (2) of regulation 29 nor paragraph (2) of regulation 30 applies unless written application for payment of the sum under that paragraph is made to the Board within 12 months from the date of death or such longer period as the Board may allow.

Payment to one person on behalf of another

33. —(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Board may direct that child benefit or guardian’s allowance shall be paid, wholly or in part, to another natural person on behalf of the person entitled to it.

(2) The Board may not make a direction under paragraph (1) unless they are satisfied that it is necessary for protecting the interests of—

(a) the person entitled to the benefit or allowance; or

(b) any child or qualifying young person in respect of whom the benefit or allowance is payable.

Payment to partner as alternative payee

34. —(1) Subject to paragraph (2), where a person with a partner is entitled to child benefit or guardian’s allowance, the Board may make arrangements whereby that benefit or allowance, as well as being payable to the person entitled to it, may, in the alternative, be paid to that person’s partner on behalf of that person.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to guardian’s allowance where a woman has elected that the allowance is not to be paid to her husband or male civil partner in accordance with regulation 10 of the Guardian’s Allowance (General) Regulations 2003(prescribed manner of making an election under section 77(9) of the Contributions and Benefits Act and section 77(9) of the Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act)( 17 ).

PART 5 OVERPAYMENTS AND RECOVERY

Recovery of overpayments by direct credit transfer

35. —(1) If the adjudicating authority determines that—

(a) a payment of child benefit or guardian’s allowance in excess of entitlement has been credited to a bank account or other account under an arrangement for direct credit transfer made in accordance with regulation 16 ; and

(b) the conditions specified in paragraph (2) are satisfied,

the excess, or the specified part of it to which the certificate referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of that paragraph relates, shall be recoverable.

(2) The following conditions are specified in this paragraph—

(a) the Board must have certified that the payment in excess of entitlement, or a specified part of it, is materially due to the arrangement for payments to be made by direct credit transfer; and

(b) subject to paragraph (3), notice of the effect which this regulation would have, in the event of an overpayment, must have been given in writing to the person entitled to the benefit or allowance, or to a person acting in his behalf, before the Board made the arrangement for the payment of child benefit or guardian’s allowance into that account .

(3) In the case of an arrangement relating to child benefit which was agreed to before 6th April 1987, the condition specified in paragraph (2)(b) need not be satisfied in any case where the application for the benefit to be paid by direct credit transfer contained a statement, or was accompanied by a written statement made by the applicant, which complied with the provisions specified in paragraph (4).

(4) The provisions specified in this paragraph are—

(a) in relation to child benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act, regulation 7(2)(b) and (6) of the Child Benefit (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1984( 18 );

(b) in relation to child benefit under the Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act, regulation 7(2)(b) and (6) of the Child Benefit (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985( 19 ).

Circumstances in which determination need not be reversed, varied, revised or superseded

36. —(1) This regulation applies where, whether fraudulently or otherwise, a person has misrepresented, or failed to disclose, material facts which do not provide a basis for the determination in pursuance of which an amount of child benefit or guardian’s allowance was paid—

(a) in relation to benefit or allowance under the Contributions and Benefits Act, to be revised under section 9 or superseded under section 10 of the Social Security Act 1998;

(b) in relation to benefit or allowance under the Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act, to be revised under Article 10 or superseded under Article 11 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998.

(2) Where this regulation applies—

(a) in relation to an amount mentioned in paragraph (1) relating to child benefit or guardian’s allowance under the Contributions and Benefits Act, neither subsection (5) nor (5A) of section 71 of the Administration Act (recoverability dependent on reversal, variation, revision or supersession of determination)( 20 ) applies;

(b) in relation to an amount mentioned in paragraph (1) relating to child benefit or guardian’s allowance under the Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act, neither subsection (5) nor (5A) of section 69 of the Administration (NI) Act (recoverability dependent on reversal, variation, revision or supersession of determination)( 21 ) applies.

Calculating recoverable amounts

37. Where there has been an overpayment of child benefit or guardian’s allowance, in calculating the amounts recoverable under section 71(1) of the Administration Act, section 69(1) of the Administration (NI) Act or regulation 35, the adjudicating authority must deduct any amount which is offset under regulation 38.

Offsetting prior payments of child benefit and guardian’s allowance against arrears payable by virtue of a subsequent determination

38. —(1) Subject to regulation 40, in either of the cases specified in paragraphs (2) and (3)—

(a) a sum of child benefit paid for a period covered by a subsequent determination shall be offset against any arrears of entitlement to the benefit payable for that period by virtue of the subsequent determination;

(b) a sum of guardian’s allowance paid for a period covered by a subsequent determination shall be offset against any arrears of entitlement to the allowance payable for that period by virtue of the subsequent determination,

and, except to the extent that it exceeds them, the sum so paid shall be treated as properly paid on account of the arrears.

(2) The case specified in this paragraph is where a person has been paid a sum pursuant to a determination which subsequently—

(a) is revised under section 9 or superseded under section 10 of the Social Security Act 1998;

(b) is revised under Article 10 or superseded under Article 11 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998; or

(c) is overturned on appeal.

(3) The case specified in this paragraph is where a person has been paid a sum for a period by way of an increase in respect of a dependent person and it is subsequently determined that—

(a) the dependent person is entitled to the benefit or allowance for that period; or

(b) a third person is entitled to the increase for that period in priority to the person who has been paid.

(4) Where child benefit which has been paid under an award in favour of a person (“the first claimant”) is subsequently awarded to another (“the second claimant”) for any week, the benefit shall nevertheless be treated as properly paid if it was received by someone (other than the first claimant) who—

(a) had the child or qualifying young person living with him or was contributing towards the cost of providing for the child or qualifying young person at a weekly rate which was not less than the weekly rate under the original award; and

(b) could have been entitled to child benefit in respect of that child or qualifying young person for that week had a claim been made in time.

(5) Any amount which is treated under paragraph (4) as properly paid shall be deducted from the amount payable to the second claimant under the subsequent award.

Offsetting prior payments of income support or jobseeker’s allowance against arrears of child benefit or guardian’s allowance payable by virtue of a subsequent determination

39. —(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) a person has been paid a sum by way of income support or jobseeker’s allowance; and

(b) it is subsequently determined that—

(i) child benefit or guardian’s allowance should be awarded or is payable in lieu of the income support or jobseeker’s allowance; and

(ii) the income support or jobseeker’s allowance was not payable.

(2) Subject to regulation 40, any sum of income support or jobseeker’s allowance in respect of the period covered by the subsequent determination—

(a) shall be offset against any arrears of entitlement to the child benefit or guardian’s allowance payable for that period by virtue of that determination; and

(b) except to the extent that it exceeds them, the sum so paid shall be treated as properly paid on account of the arrears.

Exception from offset of recoverable overpayment

40. No amount may be offset under regulation 38(1) or 39(2) which has been determined to be a recoverable overpayment for the purposes of section 71(1) of the Administration Act or section 69(1) of the Administration (NI) Act.

Bringing interim payments into account

41. —(1) Subject to paragraph (2), if it is practicable to do so—

(a) any interim payment made in anticipation of an award of child benefit or guardian’s allowance shall be offset by the adjudicating authority in reduction of the benefit or allowance to be awarded;

(b) any interim payment (whether or not made in anticipation of an award) which is not offset under sub-paragraph (a) shall be deducted by the Board from—

(i) the sum payable under the award of benefit or allowance on account of which the interim payment was made; or

(ii) any sum payable under any subsequent award of the benefit or allowance to the same person.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply unless the Board have given the notice required by regulation 22(3).

Recovery of overpaid interim payments

42. —(1) Subject to paragraph (2), if the adjudicating authority, in the circumstances specified in either of paragraphs (3) and (4), has determined that an interim payment has been overpaid, it shall determine the amount of the overpayment.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply unless the Board have given the notice required by regulation 22(3).

(3) The circumstances specified in this paragraph are where an interim payment has been made under regulation 22(1)(a) and (b) and—

(a) the recipient has failed to make a claim in accordance with these Regulations as soon as practicable;

(b) the recipient has made a defective application and the Board have not treated the claim as duly made under regulation 10;

(c) it has been determined that—

(i) there is no entitlement on the claim;

(ii) the entitlement is less than the amount of the interim payment; or

(iii) the benefit or allowance on the claim is not payable; or

(d) the claim has been withdrawn.

(4) The circumstances specified in this paragraph are where an interim payment has been made under regulation 22(1)(c) which exceeds the entitlement under the award of benefit on account of which the interim payment was made.

(5) The amount of any overpayment determined under paragraph (1) shall be recoverable by the Board in the same manner as it would be if it were recoverable under—

(a) in relation to child benefit or guardian’s allowance under the Contributions and Benefits Act, section 71(1) of the Administration Act;

(b) in relation to child benefit or guardian’s allowance under the Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act, section 69(1) of the Administration (NI) Act.

Recovery of overpayments from awards of child benefit and guardian’s allowance

42A.—(1) Where any amount of child benefit or guardian’s allowance is recoverable from a person under—

(a) section 71(1) of the Administration Act,

(b) section 69(1) of the Administration ( NI ) Act, or

(c) regulation 35(1) or 42(5),

that amount may be recovered by the adjudicating authority from any child benefit or guardian’s allowance payable to that person.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), child benefit or guardian’s allowance payable includes any payment of arrears of child benefit or guardian’s allowance other than a payment of arrears required to be made by regulation 21(1) of the Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2003.

PART 6 REVOCATIONS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Revocations

43. The subordinate legislation specified in column (1) of Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule 3, in so far as it relates to child benefit or guardian’s allowance, is revoked to the extent mentioned in column (3) of that Schedule.

Transitional provisions

44. —(1) Anything done or commenced under any provision of the instruments revoked by regulation 43, so far as relating to child benefit or guardian’s allowance, is to be treated as having been done or as being continued under the corresponding provision of these Regulations.

(2) The revocation by regulation 43 of an instrument which itself revoked an earlier instrument subject to savings does not prevent the continued operation of those savings, in so far as they are capable of continuing to have effect.

(3) “Instrument” includes a Statutory Rule of Northern Ireland.

Preamble

SCHEDULE 1 POWERS EXERCISED IN MAKING THESE REGULATIONS

1. The following provisions of the Administration Act—

(a) section 5(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (g), (h), (hh), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), (p), (q) and (r) and (2)(a) and (g)( 22 );

(b) section 7(1), (2) and (3)(a);

(c) section 71(4), (5), (5A), (6), (7) and (11)(a) and (f);

(d) section 111A(1A), (1B), (1D) and (1E);

(e) section 112(1A) to (1D);

(f) section 189(1), (4), (5) and (6)( 23 );

(g) section 191( 24 ).

2. The following provisions of the Administration (NI) Act—

(a) section 5(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (g), (h), (hh), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), (q), (r), (s) and (t) and (2)(a) and (g)( 25 );

(b) section 69(4), (5), (5A), (6), (7) and (11)(a) and (f);

(c) section 105A(1A), (1B), (1D) and (1E);

(d) section 106(1A) to (1D);

(e) section 165(1), (4), (5), (6) and (11A)( 26 );

(f) section 167(1)( 27 ).

3. Sections 9(1) and 84 of the Social Security Act 1998( 28 ).

4. Articles 2(2) and 10(1) of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998( 29 ).

5. Sections 132 and 133(1) and (2) of the Finance Act 1999( 30 ).

6. Sections 50(1) and (2)(b) and (d) and 54(2) of the Tax Credits Act 2002.

Regulation 3

SCHEDULE 2 ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

PART 1 GENERAL

Introduction

1. This Schedule supersedes the Social Security (Electronic Communications) (Child Benefit) Order 2002( 31 ) which was made under section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000( 32 ).

Interpretation

2. —(1) In this Schedule—

“electronic communications” includes any communications conveyed by means of an electronic communications network.

“official computer system” means a computer system maintained by or on behalf of the Board—

(2) References in this Schedule to the delivery of information and to information shall be construed in accordance with section 132(8) of the Finance Act 1999.

Scope of this Schedule

3. This Schedule applies to the delivery of information to or by the Board, the delivery of which is authorised or required by these Regulations.

PART 2 GENERAL

Use of electronic communications by the Board

4. The Board may only use electronic communications in connection with the matters referred to in paragraph 3 if—

(a) the recipient has indicated that he consents to the Board using electronic communications in connection with those matters; and

(b) the Board have not been informed that that consent has been withdrawn.

Restrictions on the use of electronic communications by persons other than the Board

5. —(1) A person other than the Board may only use electronic communications in connection with the matters referred to in paragraph 3 if the conditions specified in sub-paragraphs (2) to (5) are satisfied.

(2) The first condition is that the person is for the time being permitted to use electronic communications for the purpose in question by an authorisation given by means of a specific or general direction of the Board.

(3) The second condition is that the person uses—

(a) an approved method for authenticating the identity of the sender of the communication;

(b) an approved method of electronic communications; and

(c) an approved method for authenticating any information delivered by means of electronic communications.

(4) The third condition is that any information sent by means of electronic communications is in an approved form (including the manner in which the information is presented).

(5) The fourth condition is that the person maintains such records in written or electronic form as may be specified in a specific or general direction given by the Board.

(6) “Approved” means approved for the purposes of this Schedule, and for the time being, by means of a specific or general direction given by the Board.

Use of intermediaries

6. The Board may use intermediaries in connection with—

(a) the delivery of information by means of electronic communications in connection with the matters referred to in paragraph 3; and

(b) the authentication or security of anything transmitted by any such means,

and may require other persons to use intermediaries in connection with those matters.

PART 3 EVIDENTIAL PROVISIONS

Effect of delivering information by means of electronic communications

7. —(1) Information which is delivered by means of electronic communications shall be treated as having been delivered in the manner or form required by any provision of these Regulations if, but only if, all the conditions imposed by—

(a) this Schedule,

(b) any other applicable enactment (except to the extent that the condition thereby imposed is incompatible with this Schedule); and

(c) any specific or general direction given by the Board,

are satisfied.

(2) Information delivered by means of electronic communications shall be treated as having been delivered on the day on which the last of the conditions imposed as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) is satisfied.

• This is subject to the following qualifications.

(3) The Board may by a general or specific direction provide for information to be treated as delivered upon a different date (whether earlier or later) than that given by sub-paragraph (2).

(4) Information shall not be taken to have been delivered to an official computer system by means of electronic communications unless it is accepted by the system to which it is delivered.

Proof of content

8. —(1) A document certified by an officer of the Board to be a printed-out version of any information delivered by means of electronic communications under this Schedule on any occasion shall be evidence, unless the contrary is proved, that that information—

(a) was delivered by means of electronic communications on that occasion; and

(b) constitutes the entirety of what was delivered on that occasion.

(2) A document purporting to be a certificate given in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) shall be presumed to be such a certificate unless the contrary is proved.

Proof of identity of sender or recipient

9. The identity of—

(a) the sender of any information delivered to an official computer system by means of electronic communications under this Schedule, or

(b) the recipient of any information delivered by means of electronic communications from an official computer system,

shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be the person recorded as such on an official computer system.

Information delivered electronically on another’s behalf

10. Any information delivered by an approved method of electronic communications on behalf of any person shall be deemed to have been delivered by him unless he proves that it was delivered without his knowledge or connivance.

Proof of delivery of information

11. —(1) The use of an authorised method of electronic communications shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to have resulted in the delivery of information—

(a) in the case of information falling to be delivered to the Board, if the delivery of the information has been recorded on an official computer system;

(b) in the case of information falling to be delivered by the Board, if the despatch of the information has been recorded on an official computer system.

(2) The use of an authorised method of electronic communications shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, not to have resulted in the delivery of information—

(a) in the case of information falling to be delivered to the Board, if the delivery of the information has not been recorded on an official computer system;

(b) in the case of information falling to be delivered by the Board, if the despatch of the information has not been recorded on an official computer system.

(3) The time of receipt of any information sent by an authorised means of electronic communications shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be that recorded on an official computer system.

Use of unauthorised means of electronic communications

12. —(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies to information which is required to be delivered to the Board in connection with the matters mentioned in paragraph 3.

(2) The use of a means of electronic communications, for the purpose of delivering any information to which this paragraph applies, shall be conclusively presumed not to have resulted in the delivery of that information, unless—

(a) that means of electronic communications is for the time being approved for delivery of information of that kind; and

(b) the sender is approved for the use of that means of electronic communications in relation to information of that kind.

Regulation 43

SCHEDULE 3 Revocations

PART 1 REVOCATIONS APPLICABLE TO GREAT BRITAIN

PART 2 REVOCATIONS APPLICABLE TO NORTHERN IRELAND