Social Security Administration Act 1992

Social Security Administration Act 1992[a]
Act of Parliament
coat of arms
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to the administration of social security and related matters with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission.
Citation1992 c. 5
Territorial extent 
[b]
Dates
Royal assent13 February 1992
Commencement1 July 1992[c]
Other legislation
Amended by
List
Relates to
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended
Text of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The act is the main piece of legislation dealing with the administration of social security benefits in the United Kingdom.

The enactments consolidated by the act were repealed, in consequence of the consolidation, by the Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1992.[1]

The Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 made equivalent provisions for Northern Ireland.

History

There has been various types of support for those without income in the UK since medieval times but 'modern' social security began in the mid 20th century. Various Acts of Parliament and Statutory Instruments dealt with the rules, but the current regulation is covered, in the main, by this much amended act.

Amendments

There has been a number of amendments since the act was first passed, the main ones being the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997 (c. 47),[2] the Social Security Act 1998 (c. 14),[3] the Social Security Fraud Act 2001 (c. 11),[4] and the Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5),.[5]

Statutory instruments

Although the base legislation is contained within the acts, most of the actual rules and regulations come within a plethora of Statutory Instruments. The best place to view these is via (National Archives), a UK Governmental website.

Offences

The main offences created by the act (and subsequent amendments) are :

s.111 : failure by specified body to provide information;
s.111A : dishonestly making false claims or withholding information about relevant changes; and
s.112 : knowingly making false claims or withholding information about relevant changes.

Section 111A is an either way offence, the others are summary only.

Prosecution - legal points

Where cases of benefit fraud result in criminal prosecution of an individual, in England & Wales such prosecutions are generally brought either under section 112 Social Security Administration Act 1992 (where no dishonesty is alleged) or under s111A of the same Act (where dishonesty is alleged). There are a number of legal cases relevant to prosecutions under these sections. Key points are dealt with in more detail in technical articles on benefit fraud.[6]

The penalties for benefit fraud may be mitigated where it can be shown that the defendant would have been entitled to other forms of financial benefit, such as UK Tax Credits, had an appropriate claim on the true facts been lodged at the time.

A person convicted of benefit fraud may be held to have a 'criminal lifestyle' in confiscation proceedings under Parts 2, 3 & 4 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Notes

  1. ↑ Section 192(1).
  2. ↑ Section 192(5)–(6).
  3. ↑ Section 192(4).

References

  1. ↑ "Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1992", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1992 c. 6
  2. ↑ Government website - SSA(F)A 1997
  3. ↑ Government website - SSA 1998
  4. ↑ Government website - SSFA 2001
  5. ↑ Government website - WRA 2007
  6. ↑ David Winch, "Benefit fraud" (2009)
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