extent N.I. + PART 1N.I.INTRODUCTION

extent N.I. + Citation, commencement and effectN.I.

article 1 + 1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2025, and subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), shall come into operation for the purposes of—

article 1 1 a + (a)this Article and Articles 2 and 7 on 1st April 2025;

article 1 1 b + (b)Article 3—

article 1 1 b i + (i)in so far as it relates to any increase to which Article 7(9)(b) applies, on 1st April 2025, and

article 1 1 b ii + (ii)for all other purposes on 7th April 2025;

article 1 1 c + (c)Articles 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18 and 19, on 7th April 2025;

article 1 1 d + (d)Articles 8 and 10, on 6th April 2025;

article 1 1 e + (e)Article 9, on 6th April 2025, except for the purpose of determining the rate of maternity allowance in accordance with section 35A(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(1) (appropriate weekly rate of maternity allowance under section 35), for which purpose it shall come into operation on 7th April 2025;

article 1 1 f + (f)Articles 16 and 17, on 10th April 2025;

article 1 1 g + (g)term benefit week + Articles 20, 21 and 22, in so far as they relate to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 7th April 2025, and for the purpose of this sub-paragraph “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the Income Support Regulations;

article 1 1 h + (h)Articles 23 and 24, in relation to a case where rent is payable at intervals of a week or any multiple thereof, on 7th April 2025, and in relation to any other case, on 1st April 2025;

article 1 1 i + (i)term benefit week + Articles 25, 26 and 27, in so far as they relate to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 7th April 2025, and for the purpose of this sub-paragraph “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996;

article 1 1 j + (j)term benefit week + Article 28, in so far as it relates to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 7th April 2025, and for the purpose of this sub-paragraph “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 2016;

article 1 1 k + (k)term benefit week + Article 29, in so far as it relates to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 7th April 2025, and for the purpose of this sub-paragraph “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the State Pension Credit Regulations;

article 1 1 l + (l)term benefit week + Article 30, in so far as it relates to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 7th April 2025, and for the purpose of this sub-paragraph “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008;

article 1 1 m + (m)term benefit week + Article 31, in so far as it relates to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 7th April 2025, and for the purposes of this sub-paragraph “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2016;

article 1 1 n + (n)term assessment period + Articles 32 and 33, in so far as they relate to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first assessment period to commence for that beneficiary on or after 7th April 2025, and for the purpose of this sub-paragraph “assessment period” has the same meaning as in Article 12(2) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015(2); and

article 1 1 o + (o)Article 34, on 6th May 2025.

(2) In so far as Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 28 and 31 relate to a beneficiary in favour of whom an award of universal credit is in force, those Articles shall come into operation for the purposes of determining the beneficiary’s unearned income in relation to that award on the same day as Articles 32 and 33 come into operation for that beneficiary.

(3) The changes made in the sums specified for rates or amounts of benefits in—

article 1 3 a + (a)Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13; and

article 1 3 b + (b)Article 25(b), in so far as that sum is relevant for the purposes of establishing whether the rate of any benefit is not to be increased in respect of an adult dependant because the earnings of the dependant exceed a specified amount,

shall take effect for each case on the date specified in relation to that case in Article 7.