The Social Security (Habitual Residence and Past Presence) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 - screening

The amendments are necessary as a result of the sudden and unexpected nature of the situation in Afghanistan.

The Home Office (HO) has established two resettlement routes for Afghan nationals: the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghanistan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). There is currently another scheme in operation which is due to end in 2022 - the Afghanistan Locally Employed Staff Ex-Gratia Scheme. This urgent legislation is required to ensure that anyone arriving here under one of these schemes is exempt from the habitual residence test (HRT) and the past presence test (PPT) and may be entitled to social security benefits upon arrival in Northern Ireland (NI).