The Department for Communities has made a Statutory Rule entitled The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (S.R. 2020 No. 87), which comes into operation on 27 May 2020.

These Regulations, make provision to allow a claim to be made electronically for State Pension Credit in addition to the existing methods of claiming by post and by telephone.

The Covid-19 outbreak has put a strain on the Department’s telephony system. An additional electronic way of claiming State Pension Credit should ease the pressure on the telephony system whilst also allowing people to make a claim at a time of their own choosing and without having to leave their homes. This Statutory Rule makes the necessary amendments to allow a claim to be made electronically.

This Order makes consequential amendments to the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (S.R. 1987 No.465). They provide for State Pension Credit to be included in the list of benefits for which an electronic claim may be made and the conditions under which the use of electronic communication apply.

Copies of the Rule may be purchased from the Stationery Office at www.tsoshop.co.uk or by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0870 600 522 or viewed online at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr.