This note is not part of the order, but is intended to indicate its general effect.

This order, which comes into force on 30 March 2020, makes a modification to a requirement imposed by the Social Security Act 2018 (the Act) that may be impossible or impracticable to comply with during an epidemic.

Clause 4 modifies the requirement in section 96(1)(c) of the Act that, before a person (P) is entitled to temporary additional support, P must meet criteria and requirements in the Social Security Regulations 2018. Those criteria and requirements include (regulation 61) that temporary additional support may be granted to an applicant for that support only if an application form is completed in writing by or on behalf of the applicant, and sets out the information required to allow—

• the applicant’s eligibility for temporary additional support to be assessed; and

• the rate of any temporary additional support payable to the applicant to be determined.

Clause 4 provides that section 96(1)(c) has effect as if an applicant to whom clause 4 applies meets the criteria and requirements in regulation 61 of the Social Security Regulations 2018.

Clause 4 applies to an applicant for temporary additional support only if that support was granted before, and the prescribed period of support for that support ends (under regulation 67(1)(a) or (b) of those regulations) on or after, 30 March 2020.

Clause 4 does not apply if, during that period, the applicant notifies MSD that the applicant does not wish to receive temporary additional support for another prescribed period of support.

Clause 4 also does not apply if, during that period, the applicant (as required by section 113 of the Act) notifies MSD of a change in the applicant’s circumstances that leads MSD to consider that—

• the deficiency will reduce to nil; or

• the applicant will for any reason be ineligible for temporary additional support; or

• temporary additional support will for any reason not be payable to the applicant.