Corporate report

Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund Account for the year ended 31 March 2023

Updated 14 December 2023

1. Accounting Officer’s Foreword

1.1. Introduction

The National Insurance Fund (NIF) holds National Insurance Contributions (NICs), paid by employees, employers and the self-employed. Voluntary contributions are also paid into the Fund. Receipts paid into the NIF are kept separate from all other revenue raised by national taxes and are used to pay social security benefits such as contributory benefits and the State Pension.

The NIF Account presents the receipts and payments for the financial year, as well as the balance on the Fund at the end of the year.

NICs also help finance the National Health Service (NHS). NICs are paid into the NIF net of money allocated to the NHS.

1.2. Basis for the preparation of the NIF Accounts

The HM Treasury Accounts Direction issued under Section 141(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 requires HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to prepare a yearly statement of the transactions of the NIF. The Account is prepared on a receipts and payments basis, with values recognised as set out in Notes to the Account 5.1.3 and 5.1.4, and follows all relevant accounting and disclosure requirements given in Managing Public Money and other guidance issued by HM Treasury.

The Account is prepared on a going concern basis.

1.3. Statutory background

The National Insurance Act 1946 and National Assistance Act 1948 established the modern welfare state that continues today. As an important part of that, the NIF funds the State Pension as well as certain unemployment benefits, employment support benefits and other benefits in situations where the individuals meet the contributory and other qualifying conditions.

Section 141(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, as amended by the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, moved the management of the NIF from the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland to the management of the Inland Revenue (now HMRC).

Under Section 142 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, NICs received by HMRC are paid into the NIF after deducting the appropriate NHS allocation (see note 5.2). HMRC is required to consult with the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) to determine the appropriate apportionment, which is approved by HM Treasury.

The Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt (CRND) are responsible, in accordance with Section 141(3) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, amended by paragraph 44(4) of Schedule 3 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, for the investment of the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund Investment Account (NINIFIA). They are authorised to invest in accordance with directions given by HM Treasury and in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between HMRC and CRND.

Under the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, benefits due under the National Insurance scheme are payable out of the NIF. The funds required for meeting the cost of these benefits are mainly provided from NICs paid by employed earners, their employers and the self-employed. The Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 sets out the conditions governing entitlement to most benefits and the basis for assessing liability to pay NICs.

In accordance with Section 88(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, arrangements are made, in consultation with GAD, to make transfers between the Great Britain and Northern Ireland NIFs in order to maintain parity of balances. The Joint Authority has agreed that as far as possible the relative balances in the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Funds should reflect the relative populations aged 16 and over as shown in the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) population estimates. This means that currently the Northern Ireland balance is intended to be maintained at 2.77% of the joint balances of the 2 Funds. The system of parity payments acts as a safeguard against serious imbalances between the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Funds.

In addition to this, the Social Security Act 1993 allows for money provided by Parliament to be paid into the NIF via a Treasury Grant, if HM Treasury considers it expedient to do so. Current practice is to aim to maintain the level of the Fund at a working balance of at least 1/6th (16.7%) of projected annual benefit expenditure.

The amounts received into, and paid out of the NIF and the resulting balance on the Fund depend on legislation, which is the responsibility of HM Treasury Ministers and the Minister for the Department for Communities. In setting contribution rates, HM Treasury Ministers are required to consider changes in the general level of earnings, the balance on the Fund and payments expected to be made from it in the future (Sections 129, 130, 130A, 130AA, 130AC, 130AD and 131 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992). In addition, both demographic and economic changes can affect amounts received and paid out and therefore the overall balance on the Fund.

The Health and Social Care Levy was announced on 7 September 2021. It was legislated for through the Health and Social Care Levy Act 2021, which received Royal Assent on 20 October 2021. It was implemented from 6 April 2022 through a temporary 1.25 percentage point increase to Class 1, Class 1A, Class 1B, and Class 4 NICs rates in the 2022 to 2023 tax year. The levy was then intended to be formally separated from NICs from 6 April 2023 and would have been payable as a separate tax by employers, employees and the self-employed, including those working above State Pension age. The proceeds of the separate levy were intended to be payable towards the cost of health and social care in the United Kingdom.

On 22 September 2022, the government announced that the temporary 1.25 percentage point increase to Class 1, Class 1A, Class 1B and Class 4 NICs would be removed from 6 November 2022 for the remainder of the 2022 to 2023 tax year that it would stop the Health and Social Care Levy from coming into force from 6 April 2023. The Health and Social Care Levy (Repeal) Act 2022 received Royal Assent on 25 October 2022.

1.4. Operational responsibilities

HMRC is responsible for collecting NICs and recording them against individuals’ contribution records which determine entitlement to social security benefits payable from the NIF. As Accounting Officer for the NIF, I am responsible for the control and management of the Fund.

The Department for Communities (DfC) has overall responsibility for the award and payment of most benefits payable from the NIF, including those relating to retirement, bereavement, contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Entitlement to benefit is determined by the claimant satisfying qualifying conditions. For Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Shared Parental Pay and Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay employers reduce the amount of NICs paid to HMRC by the amounts of these benefits that they are able to recover. Subsequently, DfC pays over to HMRC an amount to compensate the NIF for this shortfall in contributions, as estimated by GAD.

The Department for the Economy (DfE) is responsible for making Redundancy Payment Scheme awards. The Northern Ireland Shared Services Centre handles the payment of awards and collection of receipts.

1.5. Financial performance

The National Insurance scheme is financed on a pay as you go basis with contribution rates set at a level broadly necessary to meet the expected benefits expenditure in that year, after taking into account any other payments and receipts, and to maintain a working balance. Changes in contribution levels, in response to the needs of the Fund, take time to implement, therefore a working balance is necessary as the NIF has no borrowing powers. The NIF is obligated under legislation to fund any future identified underpayments or overpayments. This would include providing funds to satisfy provisions as they are settled in government departments that administer payments on behalf of the Fund.

The minimum working balance for 2022 to 2023 was estimated at £526 million, being 16.7% of estimated benefit expenditure. HM Treasury Ministers made provision for a Treasury Grant for 2022 to 2023 of up to 17% estimated benefit payments. The balance on the Fund at 31 March 2023 was £2.1 billion and was above the estimated minimum requirement throughout the year. No Treasury Grant was therefore required in 2022 to 2023.

GAD has projected an increase in the balance of the Fund in the year ended 31 March 2024 and has indicated that no Treasury Grant will be required in that year. However, as a contingency, under article 4(3) of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 (S.I. 1993/592 (N.I.2)), HM Treasury Ministers have made provision for a Treasury Grant for 2023 to 2024 of up to 5% of estimated benefit payments. This equates to a provisional facility of £180 million.

1.6. Audit

The Comptroller and Auditor General is required under Section 141(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 to examine and certify the NIF Account and to lay copies of it, together with his report, before Parliament.

I have taken all steps that I ought to have taken to make myself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.

The audit fee for 2022 to 2023 was £22,000 (£21,000 in 2021 to 2022) and will be included in the 2023 to 2024 Account. No non-audit services were undertaken in 2022 to 2023.

1.7. Accounting Officer’s responsibilities

As Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary of HMRC, I am the Accounting Officer for the NIF, appointed by HM Treasury with effect from 29 October 2019. As Accounting Officer for the NIF I am responsible for:

• maintaining proper accounting records

• ensuring such internal controls are in place as deemed necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error

• preparing financial statements, which properly present, in accordance with the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 and with directions made by HM Treasury

• preparing the Accounting Officer’s Foreword, in accordance with the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 and with directions made by HM Treasury

• ensuring that an appropriate system of internal control is in place to ensure that the expenditure and income presented in the financial statements have been applied to the purposes intended by Parliament and that the financial transactions conform to the authorities which govern them

As Accounting Officer I am also responsible for ensuring compliance with HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money, safeguarding the assets of the Fund and for the prevention and detection of fraud, error and non-compliance with law or regulations.

In preparing this account, I am required to ensure suitable accounting policies have been applied on a consistent basis and that judgements and estimates have been made on a reasonable basis. Many of the activities relating to the transactions of the NIF are carried out by other departments (for example DfC and DfE) and agencies and I receive letters of assurance from them as detailed in section 2.3 of the Governance Statement.

As Accounting Officer, I confirm this account is fair, balanced and understandable. I take personal responsibility for this account and the judgements required for determining that it is fair, balanced and understandable.

Jim Harra
Accounting Officer
7 December 2023 

2. Northern Ireland Governance Statement

2.1. Purpose of the Northern Ireland Governance Statement

This Governance Statement sets out the governance and risk management arrangements for the NIF. It applies to the financial year 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 and up to the date of signing of the NIF Account.

2.2. Scope of responsibility

As Accounting Officer for the NIF, I have responsibility for ensuring its risks are effectively managed across HMRC and for safeguarding the public funds contained within it, for which I am personally responsible as departmental Accounting Officer in accordance with the responsibilities assigned to me in Managing Public Money. Accordingly, I ensure that risk management operates at all levels in HMRC, from operational decision making on individual cases, through to the identification and mitigation of strategic level risks in our departmental Risks and Issues Register.

While HMRC has overall responsibility for the control and management of the Fund (which includes allocation of funds to other departments with NIF responsibilities and the collection of NICs), DfC is responsible for the control and management of benefit payments. DfE is responsible for the control and management of Redundancy Payments Scheme awards covered by the Fund, with the payment of these awards and collection of receipts facilitated through the use of the Northern Ireland Shared Services Centre.

I receive letters of assurance from the Accounting Officer of DfC approved by their Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and from the Accounting Officer of DfE approved by their Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, which give me confidence that they have sufficient governance arrangements in place and highlight any significant risks that may impact on their control and management of NIF-related activities. Governance arrangements are outlined in their respective governance statements and published within the 2022 to 2023 DfC Annual Report and Accounts and the 2022 to 2023 DfE Annual Report and Accounts.

HMRC has produced a full Governance Statement setting out details of its compliance with the Corporate Governance in Central Government Departments: Code of Good Practice; the role of the Board and committees within HMRC, along with risks to HMRC’s performance and how these have been managed. This includes disclosures relating to issues outside of the scope of work relating to the NIF. The Governance Statement is included in the published 2022 to 2023 HMRC Annual Report and Accounts.

Operational Excellence, a directorate of HMRC’s Customer Services Group, has overall accountability for the control and management of the NICs processes. The Joint Management Board (JMB) is chaired by the Deputy Director responsible for NICs, Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Self Assessment (SA) and Construction Industry Scheme (CIS). It provides an escalation route and forum where process matters including risks and issues can be discussed by a wider HMRC stakeholder group, which includes the Deputy Director of NICs Policy, International, and Student Finance.

The National Insurance Fund Accounting Board (NIFAB), chaired by HMRC’s Head of Tax Accounts Production, provides a forum and network for key stakeholders, including from HMRC, DfC and DfE, to work collaboratively to drive NIF policy, strategy, planning, risk and change management, and to monitor effective Fund administration.

Both the JMB and the NIFAB sit below and help support the Board and committee structures described in the 2022 to 2023 HMRC Annual Report and Accounts.

2.3. Risks to the NIF and how these are managed

Control and management of NIF risks are consistent with the over-arching governance statements published in the respective 2022 to 2023 annual reports and accounts for HMRC, DfC and DfE.

NIF-specific risks are reported to, and managed throughout the year by the NIFAB which has wide representation, including from HMRC, DfC and DfE. NIF-specific risks are regularly reviewed at the NIFAB, and no significant risks have been identified for 2022 to 2023 other than the matters noted below.

Matters on which I have received assurance

DfC has provided a letter of assurance that has been approved by its Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. It contains details about its capacity to handle risk and its risk control framework. Throughout 2022 to 2023, risks to the NIF for which DfC remains primarily accountable were reviewed and managed within DfC and updates regularly shared with HMRC and other key stakeholders through attendance at the NIFAB. The following matters were noted regarding DfC’s management of activities financed by the NIF:

Underpayment of State Pension – Correction Exercise

DfC uses DWP’s IT systems to administer State Pension. In early 2020 DWP alerted DfC to the fact that some individuals within certain categories of recipients, notably married women, widows and people aged 80 and over, had been underpaid State Pension. Similar to DWP, DfC formally commenced a correction exercise in January 2021. A total of 6,993 individuals resident in NI, were identified as requiring further investigatory work to determine if they have been underpaid State Pension. DfC has now completed the initial phase of correction activities and has reviewed 5,886 cases. A provision amount of £14.5 million was included in DfC’s 2021 to 2022 Annual Report and Accounts for outstanding arrears repayments to the affected people. In the year 2022 to 2023 DfC has utilised £3.3 million of the provision and carried forward the remaining balance of £11.2 million.

The Phase 2 work will continue through 2023 to 2024, and DfC continues to work in conjunction with DWP to establish whether more individuals could be affected. Payments of arrears are funded and accounted for by the NIF in the period in which DfC makes the payment.

Underpayment of State Pension – Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP)

A separate issue also causing underpayment of State Pension arose in 2021 to 2022 in connection with Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP).

For people reaching State Pension age before 6 April 2010, HRP reduced the number of qualifying years needed for a basic State Pension where someone stayed at home to care for children for whom they received Child Benefit or a person who was sick or disabled. For people reaching State Pension age since 6 April 2010, previously recorded periods of HRP were converted into National Insurance credits. Errors have occurred where periods of HRP were due but were not accurately recorded on the individual’s National Insurance record. State Pension eligibility is calculated based on National Insurance records, so this issue has led to underpayments of State Pension.  In the last year, work has been underway with HMRC and DWP in GB to investigate the extent of the problem and the subsequent impact this may have on an individual’s State Pension entitlement, including those customers resident in Northern Ireland.

DfC has recognised this issue as a contingent liability in their 2022 to 2023 Annual Report and Accounts as it was not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the financial impact. Further work is underway to refine assumptions and hypotheses with the final value of underpayments only being confirmed once the exercise has been completed.

Fraud and Error

Benefit Security Division within DfC takes the lead in driving activity to minimise fraud and error. The ‘2021–2024 Benefit Fraud, Error and Debt Strategy’ outlines at a high level the work undertaken to achieve this. The Strategy recognises what DfC currently do well whilst remaining aware of areas in which we need to respond in a rapidly changing environment. The estimated overpayment rate of NIF related benefits for 2022 to 2023 was 0.2% (£5.95 million). The estimated underpayment rate of NIF related benefits for 2022 to 2023 was 0.4% (£11.07 million). When compared with the previous year (2021 to 2022) the overpayment rate decreased from 0.4% to 0.2% and the underpayment rate remained the same at 0.4%, but the monetary amount of underpayments decreased from £12.59 million in 2021 to 2022 to £11.07 million in 2022 to 2023.

Although the Northern Ireland Comptroller and Auditor General has qualified his opinion on the regularity of benefit expenditure administered by DfC due to the levels of fraud and error, State Pension is excluded from the qualification as the estimate is significantly lower. This exclusion, and the generally lower rates of fraud and error found in contributory benefits paid for by the NIF, leads me to agree with DfC that this issue is not a material risk to the NIF. Additional fraud and error information is provided in the ‘Other financial information’ section and a summary of the DfC position for reducing the overall level of fraud and error can be found in 2022 to 2023 DfC Annual Report and Accounts.

Separately, a letter of assurance has been received from DfE, which has been approved by its Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. The letter has given me confidence that there are no material risks or control issues in the management of Redundancy Payments Scheme awards and the collection of related receipts that impact the Northern Ireland NIF for 2022 to 2023.

2.4. Review of effectiveness

A number of specific sources inform and contribute to my review of effectiveness including:

• individual annual governance statements from members of HMRC’s Executive Committee (ExCom) setting out the control framework arrangements (governance, risk management, assurance, process and data management) in their business areas

• formal assurance I receive from HMRC’s Senior Information Risk Owner that information risk has been appropriately managed in the conduct of HMRC business

• the review that underpins the production of the Northern Ireland NIF Governance Statement including letters of assurance from DfC and DfE

• the annual opinion of the Director of Internal Audit, regarding the effectiveness of the framework for governance, risk management and internal control

• any matters raised by the National Audit Office (NAO) as a result of their audit work, including wider observations on HMRC relevant to the assessment and collection of NICs

Taking all of these into account, I am confident that the risks related to NIF are being identified and effectively managed.

2.5. Conclusion

Accordingly, based on the review I have outlined above, I conclude that there is an effective system of governance, risk management and internal control that supports the Fund’s aims and objectives.

Jim Harra
Accounting Officer
7 December 2023 

3. The Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General to the Houses of Parliament

3.1. Opinion on financial statements

I certify that I have audited the financial statements of the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund for the year ended 31 March 2023 under the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992. The financial statements comprise the Receipts and Payments Account, including Statement of Balances, and the related notes including the significant accounting policies.

In my opinion, the financial statements:

• properly present the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund’s receipts, payments and balances for the year ended 31 March 2023; and

• have been properly prepared in accordance with the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 and HM Treasury directions issued thereunder

3.2. Opinion on regularity

In my opinion, in all material respects, the income and expenditure recorded in the financial statements have been applied to the purposes intended by Parliament and the financial transactions recorded in the financial statements conform to the authorities which govern them.

3.3. Basis for opinions

I conducted my audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs UK), applicable law and Practice Note 10 ‘Audit of Financial Statements and Regularity of Public Sector Entities in the United Kingdom (2022)’. My responsibilities under those standards are further described in the ‘Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements’ section of my certificate.

Those standards require me and my staff to comply with the Financial Reporting Council’s ‘Revised Ethical Standard 2019’. I am independent of the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to my audit of the financial statements in the UK. My staff and I have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.

I believe that the audit evidence I have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for my opinion.

3.4. Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, I have concluded that the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund’s use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work I have performed, I have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

My responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Accounting Officer with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this certificate.

3.5. Other information

The other information comprises information included in the Accounting Officer’s Foreword and Governance Statement but does not include the financial statements, the other financial information nor my auditor’s certificate and report. The Accounting Officer is responsible for the other information.

My opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in my certificate, I do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

My responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or my knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.

If I identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, I am required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work I have performed, I conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, I am required to report that fact.

I have nothing to report in this regard.

3.6. Opinion on other matters

In my opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

• the information given in the Accounting Officer’s Foreword and Governance Statement for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements and is in accordance with the applicable legal requirements

3.7. Matters on which I report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, I have not identified material misstatements in the Accounting Officer’s Foreword or the Governance Statement.

I have nothing to report in respect of the following matters which I report to you if, in my opinion:

• adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund or returns adequate for my audit have not been received from third parties

• I have not received all of the information and explanations I require for my audit

• the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns

• the Governance Statement does not reflect compliance with HM Treasury’s guidance

3.8. Responsibilities of the Accounting Officer for the financial statements

As explained more fully in the Accounting Officer’s Responsibilities, the Accounting Officer is responsible for:

• maintaining proper accounting records;

• ensuring such internal controls are in place as deemed necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements to be free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; and

• ensuring the financial statements, Accounting Officer’s Foreword and Governance Statement are properly presented in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework

3.9. Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

My responsibility is to audit, certify and report on the financial statements in accordance with the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992.

My objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a certificate that includes my opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting non-compliance with laws and regulations including fraud

I design procedures in line with my responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud. The extent to which my procedures are capable of detecting non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud is detailed below.

Identifying and assessing potential risks related to non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud, I:

• considered the nature of the sector, control environment and operational performance including the design of the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund’s accounting policies

• inquired of management, the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund’s head of internal audit and those charged with governance, including obtaining and reviewing supporting documentation relating to the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund’s policies and procedures relating to:

• identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulation
• detecting and responding to the risks of fraud
• the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations including the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund’s controls relating to the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund’s compliance with the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 and Managing Public Money
• inquired of management, the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund’s head of internal audit and those charged with governance whether:
• they were aware of any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations
• they had knowledge of any actual, suspected, or alleged fraud
• discussed with the engagement team and the relevant internal specialists how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud

As a result of these procedures, I considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas: revenue recognition, posting of unusual journals and benefits expenditure. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), I am also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override of controls.

I also obtained an understanding of the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund’s framework of authority and regulatory frameworks in which the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund. The key laws and regulations I considered in this context included the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, Managing Public Money and relevant benefits and pensions legislation.

Audit response to identified risk

To respond to the identified risks resulting from the above procedures:

• I reviewed the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described above as having direct effect on the financial statements

• I enquired of management, and the Audit and Risk Committee concerning actual and potential litigation and claims

• I reviewed minutes of meetings of those charged with governance and the Board; and internal audit reports

• in addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, I tested the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; assessed whether the judgements on estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business

• I instructed the Northern Ireland Audit Office as part of their audit of the Department for Communities Resource Account on the regularity of benefits payments and the level of fraud and error, and directed and supervised the work completed as part of my audit of the HM Revenue & Customs Trust Statement on the receipt of National Insurance contributions

I also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members including internal specialists and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

A further description of my responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website. This description forms part of my certificate.

Other auditor’s responsibilities

I am required to obtain evidence sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the income and expenditure reported in the financial statements have been applied to the purposes intended by Parliament and the financial transactions conform to the authorities which govern them.

I communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that I identify during my audit.

3.10. Report

I have no observations to make on these financial statements.

Gareth Davies
Comptroller and Auditor General
12 December 2022

National Audit Office
157-197 Buckingham Palace Road
Victoria
London
SW1W 9SP

4. Receipts and payments account

Prepared in accordance with Section 141(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992.

For the year ended 31 March	Notes	2023 (£000)	2022 (£000)
Receipts
National Insurance Contributions	2	2,761,057	2,603,207
Transfers from Great Britain NIF	3	906,644	549,200
Compensation for statutory recoveries	4	89,100	86,800
Income from Northern Ireland NIF Investment Account	5	34,066	2,126
Redundancy receipts	6	735	767
State Scheme Premiums	7	–	171
Other receipts	8	1	23
		3,791,603	3,242,294
Less
Payments
Benefit payments	9	(3,100,815)	(2,937,494)
Administrative costs	10	(18,713)	(19,807)
Redundancy payments	6	(5,052)	(4,117)
Other payments	11	(1,006)	(1,019)
		(3,125,586)	(2,962,437)
Receipts less payments		666,017	279,857

Statement of balances

As at 31 March	Notes	2023 (£000)	2022 (£000)
Opening balance	–	1,515,868	1,236,011
Receipts less payments	–	666,017	279,857
Closing balance	12	2,181,885	1,515,868

Jim Harra
Accounting Officer
7 December 2023

The Notes to the Account form part of these accounts.

5. Notes to the Account

Notes to the account provide additional information and accounting conventions to explain a particular feature of the financial statements. The notes which follow will also provide explanations and additional disclosure to assist readers’ understanding and interpretation of the financial statements.

5.1. Statement of accounting policies

5.1.1. Basis of preparation of the Account

This Account has been prepared in accordance with Section 141(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992. It has been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and in a form directed by HM Treasury shown in the Accounts Direction given by HM Treasury section of this Account and the policies outlined below.

5.1.2 Net accounting

NICs, State Scheme Premiums, personal pensions and benefit payments are all shown net of refunds or recoveries.

An allocation for the NHS is paid over by HMRC before the contributions are paid into the NIF and therefore the NICs are shown net of the NHS element (see note 5.2 for further details).

5.1.3. Receipts recognition

NICs

The Account shows NICs received by HMRC during the year. Contributions are recognised in the accounting period in which they are allocated and measured at the cash amount.

The contributions are collected and administered on a UK-wide basis for Great Britain and Northern Ireland and HMRC is required to allocate the total contributions between the 2 Funds. A scan of the National Insurance and Pay as You Earn Service (NPS) is used to extract postcode data of taxpayers to estimate the ratio of individuals living in each area who have made NICs. HMRC then applies this ratio, rounded to the nearest 0.1%, to the UK wide receipts figures to split the contributions between the 2 Funds. A particular split is applied to Class 4 receipts using an analysis of postcodes relating to Class 4 liabilities.

The amounts received are after recoveries by employers of amounts due in respect of any Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Shared Parental Pay and Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay made to their employees and after deduction of contributions allocated to the NHS.

Employers are responsible for calculating their own and their employees’ contributions. National Insurance records are subject to examination by HMRC. These checks and other checks on contributors may result in additional receipts or repayments in future years in respect of contribution liabilities for 2022 to 2023.

Class 1 NICs

Almost all amounts received in respect of Class 1 NICs are captured via the monthly PAYE process by the Real Time Information (RTI) system. There is a small degree of estimation involved in this process where the split between Income Tax and NICs cannot be identified.

Class 1A and 1B NICs

All amounts received in respect of Class 1A and 1B NICs are recorded on the Enterprise Tax Management Platform (ETMP) and are separately identifiable.

Class 2 and Class 4 NICs

Class 2 and Class 4 NICs are mostly collected via Self Assessment (SA). The collection of SA receipts for Income Tax, Class 2 and Class 4 NICs involves long time lags. Receipts in any one year will relate to payments on account for that year and the settlement of liabilities for previous years. SA receipts are allocated between Income Tax, Class 2, Class 4 NICs, and Capital Gains Tax using estimates based on an annual analysis of individuals’ records in the SA system.

NICs received outside of the RTI PAYE and SA processes

A small amount of NICs, mostly Class 3 voluntary contributions, are received each year outside of the RTI PAYE and SA processes. The class breakdown for these cash receipts is estimated using a scan of records held on NPS.

Transfers from Great Britain NIF

To ensure the balance of the Northern Ireland and Great Britain Funds reflect, as far as practicable, the relative sizes of the populations aged 16 and over, regular transfers are made between the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Fund. The parity payments are based on estimates by GAD using the latest population estimates published by ONS and are recognised in the accounting period when they are received (see note 5.3 for further details).

Compensation for statutory pay recoveries

Compensation payments for employer recoveries of Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Shared Parental Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay and Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay receipts are estimated by GAD and recognised in the NIF when those payments are received from DfC (see note 5.4). GAD estimates are adjusted on an annual rolling cycle once the actual amounts recovered are available after the financial year has ended.

Income from Northern Ireland NIF Investment Account

In 2022 to 2023, the Northern Ireland NIF Investment Account (NINIFIA) was almost entirely invested in the Debt Management Account, which pays a rate equal to the Bank of England base rate on a daily accrual basis. Interest is received by the NIF in the month following that in which it is earned and recognised on a cash basis.

5.1.4. Payments recognition

Benefit payments

DfC administers most of the contribution-based benefit payments that are financed from the NIF. The payment of these benefits is recognised in the NIF Account in the accounting period in which the benefit is paid to the claimant by the administrating department.

HMRC administers payment of Guardian’s Allowance to eligible recipients. The Guardian’s Allowance payments that are recognised in the NIF accounts reflect the funding that is paid from the NIF to reimburse HMRC for the payments that the department has made.

Administrative costs

The costs related to services provided to the NIF are recognised on the date the amount leaves the HMRC bank account. The costs are reimbursed by the NIF.

Redundancy payments

DfE administers Redundancy Payment Scheme awards financed from the NIF. The payment of these awards is recognised in the NIF Account in the accounting period in which the award is paid by the administrating department.

5.2. National Insurance Contributions

For the year ended 31 March Contributions – breakdown by class	Notes	2023 (£000)	2022 (£000)
Class 1 (employed earners)	1	2,645,546	2,488,778
Class 1A	2	26,178	24,337
Class 1B	2	2,879	8,012
Class 2 (self-employed flat rate)	3	8,757	8,618
Class 3 (voluntary contributions)	4	7,548	5,392
Class 4 (self-employed earnings related)	5	70,149	68,070
Total		2,761,057	2,603,207

Different groups of people pay different classes of contributions. These can be summarised as follows:

Note 1: Class 1 contributions comprise 2 parts: primary contributions payable by employees which are approximately 40% of the total Class 1 figure, and secondary contributions payable by employers, which are approximately 60%.

Note 2: Class 1A contributions are paid by employers on most benefits provided to employees. Employers pay Class 1A contributions to HMRC via the PAYE scheme with their Class 1 contributions.

Class 1B contributions are paid by employers where they have entered into a PAYE settlement agreement for tax enabling them to settle their National Insurance and Income Tax liability in a lump sum after the end of the tax year.

Note 3: Class 2 self-employed persons paying flat rate weekly contributions.

Note 4: Class 3 voluntary flat rate contributions are paid to maintain contributors’ National Insurance records to qualify for certain benefits and State Pension.

Note 5: Class 4 self-employed persons paying earnings related contributions.

NHS allocation

The NHS allocation is paid over by HMRC to the NHS before any contributions are paid into the Northern Ireland NIF and so the figures shown are net of this NHS allocation. The NHS allocation was £918 million in 2022 to 2023 (£658 million in 2021 to 2022) and forms part of the total NHS funding.

The NHS allocation is based on GAD estimates for the year ended 31 March 2023 made in December 2022. The allocation is estimated in accordance with the requirements set out in Section 142 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992.

5.3. Transfers from Great Britain NIF

For the year ended 31 March	2023 (£000)	2022 (£000)
Payments from Great Britain NIF	906,644	549,200

The amount shown in this account is in respect of financial adjustments made between the Northern Ireland NIF and the Great Britain NIF in accordance with Section 88(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Transfers between the Great Britain and Northern Ireland NIF are made so that, as far as practicable, the balance in the Northern Ireland Fund is maintained at 2.77% of the joint balance of the 2 Funds. This percentage split is based on the relative proportions of population aged 16 and over, as shown in the most recent data published by ONS.

Payments are made on a provisional basis and are adjusted at year-end when end of year balances in the 2 Funds are available. The transfer is based on the fund balances for Great Britain and Northern Ireland which themselves are based on the differences between the levels of receipts and payments and therefore the results are subject to considerable variability year-on-year. This system of parity payments acts as a final safeguard against serious imbalances between the 2 Funds.

5.4. Compensation for statutory pay recoveries

For the year ended 31 March	2023 (£000)	2022 (£000)
Statutory Maternity Pay	86,600	84,800
Statutory Adoption Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Shared Parental Pay and Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay	2,500	2,000
Total	89,100	86,800

The government compensates the NIF for loss of revenue due to contribution receipts being reduced by employers recovering Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Shared Parental Pay and Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay. The compensation is drawn down from the Consolidated Fund and then paid over to the NIF by DfC as the NIF has no facility to do so. The amounts paid over are based on estimates produced by GAD in accordance with Section 1(5) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefit (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 using information on past recoveries taken from systems administered by HMRC.

5.5. Income from Northern Ireland NIF Investment Account

For the year ended 31 March	2023 (£000)	2022 (£000)
Interest received	34,066	2,126

By virtue of SI 1978 No. 1839, surplus funds paid over to the NINIFIA may be invested by CRND in any manner specified in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 9A of Part II of Schedule 1 to the Trustee Investments Act 1961. In practice this means exposure is limited to UK government or government-guaranteed instruments and or cash deposits.

In 2022 to 2023, as in the previous year, the NINIFIA was almost entirely invested in the Debt Management Account, which pays a rate equal to the Bank of England base rate on a daily accrual basis. Investments in the Debt Management Account allow instant access and capital guarantee, for purposes of liquidity and capital preservation, an investment approach deemed by HMRC and CRND as best suited to the needs and risk appetite of the Fund.

The Debt Management Account is an Exchequer Fund, which is owned by HM Treasury, and carries the full guarantee of the UK government.

The interest is received by the NIF in the month following that in which it is earned. In 2021 to 2022 the Bank of England base rate changed from 0.25% to 0.75% over the course of the year but for the financial year 2022 to 2023, the rate increased to 4.25% by 31 March 2023, resulting in significantly higher interest received compared to the prior year.

The interest received on the Fund surplus is also placed on deposit with the NINIFIA.

The value of the monies held in the NINIFIA at 31 March 2023 increased to £2.2 billion (£1.5 billion at 31 March 2022) (see note 5.12 for details).

5.6. Redundancy payments and receipts

For the year ended 31 March	Notes	2023 (£000)	2022 (£000)
Redundancy payments	1	5,052	4,117
Redundancy receipts	2	(735)	(767)
Total		4,317	3,350

DfE administers the Redundancy Payments Scheme under the provisions of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

The scheme ensures that employees who have been made redundant receive their statutory redundancy entitlement where their employers are unable to make such payments, usually because of insolvency. In doing so, the scheme also protects the taxpayers’ interests by ensuring that it does not make payments which can and should be made by the employers themselves.

Note 1: Redundancy payments made from the Northern Ireland NIF to employees whose employers have failed to meet their statutory responsibilities.

Note 2: The receipts represent amounts recovered from employers.

5.7. State Scheme Premiums

For the year ended 31 March	2023 (£000)	2022 (£000)
State Scheme Premiums	–	171

State Scheme Premiums are payable to the Fund in respect of employed persons who cease to be covered, in certain specified circumstances, by contracted-out pension schemes. The premiums buy back the persons’ additional pension entitlement in the Additional State Pension scheme.

Although the system of contracting out ended in April 2016, Contributions Equivalent Premiums (CEPs) continued to be payable until April 2019. In addition, a contracted-out scheme reconciliation exercise was carried out within HMRC with tax bills being generated and also some refunds sent out where appropriate, including legacy pension schemes.

5.8. Other receipts

For the year ended 31 March	2023 (£000)	2022 (£000)
Personal pension receipts	1	23

The Pension Scheme Act 1993, supplemented by the Pensions Act 1995, entitled employed earners with a personal pension to have a ‘minimum contribution’ paid to their plan from the NIF. In April 2012, all contracted-out defined contribution based schemes were abolished and any other contracted-out defined benefit based schemes came to an end in April 2016 resulting in the reduction of contributory entitlement.

Although all contracting-out schemes have ended, there are still queries being dealt with which has resulted in a small amount of receipts being received.

5.9. Benefit payments

For the year ended 31 March	Notes	2023 (£000)	2022 (£000)
State Pension	1	2,734,573	2,568,372
Employment and Support Allowance (contributory)	2	335,503	336,925
Bereavement benefits	3	13,313	13,479
Maternity Allowance	4	11,628	11,082
Jobseeker’s Allowance (contributory)	5	2,319	4,671
Christmas Bonus	6	3,584	3,302
Guardian’s Allowance	7	245	0
Incapacity Benefit	8	(350)	(337)
Total		3,100,815	2,937,494

Note 1: The State Pension age is in the process of increasing:

• under the Pensions Act 2014 the State Pension age for men and women will increase incrementally from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028

• under the Pensions Act 2007 the State Pension age for men and women will increase from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046

State Pension is for people who have reached state pension age and is based on NICs paid, treated as paid or credited.

Note 2: As part of the government’s welfare reform programme, from 27 October 2008, Northern Ireland Social Security Agency (now part of DfC) introduced a new benefit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).  The benefit was introduced to improve employment opportunities for those with a health condition or disability which limits their capacity for work. From November 2016 Contributory ESA for those in the work-related activity group has been limited to 52 weeks. This does not apply to people placed in the support group or to those receiving income-related ESA which is payable by DfC.

New Style ESA can be received along with Universal Credit.

Note 3: Bereavement benefits consist of Bereavement Support; Bereavement Allowance, which is a regular payment for 52 weeks; Bereavement Payment, which is a lump sum payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance which is a regular payment while the customer has dependent children for whom they receive (or could receive) Child Benefit.

Bereavement Support was introduced in April 2017 and will eventually replace the other bereavement benefits by combining lump sums and regular payments into one benefit. Bereavement Support is payable for 18 months and there are 2 rates of lump sum and weekly payments dependent on whether the customer has a dependent child for whom they receive (or could receive) Child Benefit.

These benefits are based on the NICs paid by the deceased spouse or cohabiting partner.

In February 2023 Parliament approved the Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023.  The Remedial Order extends eligibility for Widowed Parent’s Allowance (WPA) and Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) to surviving cohabiting partners with dependent children, who were not in a legal union with their deceased cohabiting partner on the date of their death. Previously it was only available to eligible bereaved parents who were married or in a civil partnership. Retrospective claims can be made in the twelve month period from when the Remedial Order came into effect, that is from 09 February 2023 to 08 February 2024.

Note 4: Maternity Allowance is paid for up to 39 weeks at a standard weekly rate, dependent upon earnings, to a person who cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay. It is payable from a maximum of 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth and is subject to qualifying conditions.

Note 5: Contributory Jobseeker’s Allowance is payable to people who are capable of working, available for work and actively seeking work, who have paid or are treated as having paid a certain number of NICs. It is payable for 182 days and no additional benefit is payable for dependants.

The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 make provision for a new style of Jobseeker’s Allowance, which consists of a contributory element only and thus can be paid alongside Universal Credit. The rules for contributory entitlement are carried forward largely unchanged, but the regulations do make provision for new conditionality and sanctions regimes in the benefit, so they are aligned with those for Universal Credit.

Note 6: Christmas Bonus is a tax-free payment of £10 paid to people in receipt of a qualifying benefit during the relevant week, normally the first full week in December.

Note 7: Guardian’s Allowance, administered by HMRC, is payable to eligible people bringing up a child because one or both of the parents has died. Due to a system change the request for reimbursement of these payments from the NIF includes payments made in 2021 to 2022 as well as 2022 to 2023.

Note 8: Incapacity Benefit is paid at three different rates, dependent on age and term of incapacity, to a person who has paid NICs and whose Statutory Sick Pay has ended or is not applicable. It has been replaced by ESA (see note ii) for new claims from October 2008. The recoveries from claimants paying back overpayments exceeded the value of the small number of existing claims.

For administrative convenience, as well as paying Great Britain pensioners living abroad, DWP pays State Pension and bereavement benefits on behalf of Northern Ireland pensioners living abroad. The costs for these NI overseas NIF payments are charged back to DfC and the Northern Ireland NIF monthly, so the cost is borne by the Northern Ireland NIF.

The total overseas NIF spend for NI 2022 to 2023 was £121,891 (£100,625 for 2021 to 2022) predominantly for State Pension.

For details of fraud and error in benefit payments, refer to Other financial information, section 6.1.c.

5.10. Administrative costs

For the year ended 31 March	Notes	2023 (£000)	2022 (£000)
Department for Communities	1	12,600	13,800
HM Revenue and Customs	2	4,527	4,549
Department for the Economy	3	1,133	885
Department of Finance	4	360	480
Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt	5	54	54
National Audit Office – audit fees	6	21	21
Government Actuary’s Department	7	18	18
Total		18,713	19,807

Administration costs relate to services directly provided to the Northern Ireland NIF. The costs were agreed at the start of the year and paid in advance to the respective service provider from the Northern Ireland NIF and are monitored on a regular basis.

Note 1: For administration costs relating to the award and payment of contributory benefits on behalf of the Fund.

Note 2: For the collection of NICs, maintenance of individual records and associated tasks.

Note 3: For the administration costs carrying out its obligation in dealing with redundancies and insolvency applications as required under the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

Note 4: For certain services provided to Northern Ireland departments such as central accommodation services, payroll and telecom network services.

Note 5: For investment services provided by CRND in pursuance of Section 141(3) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992.

Note 6: For the audit of the 2021 to 2022 NIF Account.

Note 7: For actuarial services relating to the NIF.

5.11. Other payments

For the year ended 31 March	Notes	2023 (£000)	2022 (£000)
State Pension deferred lump sum tax payments	1	798	1,019
Statutory payments	2	208	–
Total		1,006	1,019

Note 1: State pension deferred lump sum is assessed as taxable income. Tax is deducted from the State Pension deferred lump sum every time a payment is made to a customer, and is paid to HMRC monthly in arrears.

Note 2: Payments made to recipients by HMRC where their employer has failed to make the payments required under legislation. Due to the timing of the reimbursements being requested from the NIF, the payments made in 2022 to 2023 relate to the three financial years ending 2021, 2022 and 2023.

5.12. Closing balance

As at 31 March	Notes	2023 (£000)	2022 (£000)
Monies held by the NINIFIA	1	2,195,682	1,546,868
Funds held at bank (including uncleared payments)	2	(38)	(82)
Due from other government departments	3	1,523	338
Due to other government departments	3	(15,282)	(31,256)
Total		2,181,885	1,515,868

Note 1: CRND is responsible, in accordance with Section 141(3) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, amended by paragraph 44(4) of Schedule 3 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, for the investment of the NINIFIA. They are authorised to invest in accordance with directions given by HM Treasury and in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between HMRC and CRND.

Note 2: Although the funds held at bank are shown as negative, this is not an overdrawn position because the balance includes payments issued that have not yet been cashed.

Note 3: These figures represent any amounts owed to or from HMRC, the Great Britain NIF, DfC and DfE. They arise as there is a timing difference between what is paid to and from the NIF and what is recognised in the Account, which is based on the amounts paid out or received by the other government departments.

6. Other financial information

Details of losses, payments and fraud and error are included below to provide further information on the Fund. This information is subject to audit. Additional information can be found in the published annual reports and accounts for HMRC and DfC.

6.1.a. Losses

For the year ended 31 March	Notes	2023 Amount (£000)	2023 No. of cases (where available)	2022 Amount (£000)	2022 No. of cases (where available)
Contribution losses	1	6,871	–	7,355	–
Benefit losses	2	3,028	9,052	4,206	9,089
Redundancy losses	3	966	52	742	63
Total		10,865	9,104	12,303	9,152

Note 1: Contribution losses include remissions and write-offs and insolvency debts. Remissions in respect of unpaid contributions are granted when HMRC has decided not to pursue the liability, for example on the grounds of value for money or official error. Write-offs occur when there is no practical means of pursuing the liability. The figures are the estimated value of losses attributable to the NIF.

Note 2: Benefit losses include customer fraud and administrative write-offs.

Note 3: Redundancy losses include payments made to individuals on behalf of insolvent companies, which ultimately prove irrecoverable. Debt is recovered by DfE from the sale of the assets of the insolvent company. A small part of the debt is preferential but most ranks with ordinary creditors. Therefore, most of the debt is irrecoverable.

6.1.b. Special payments

For the year ended 31 March	2023 Amount (£000)	2023 No. of cases (where available)	2022 Amount (£000)	2022 No. of cases (where available)
Wrongly advised benefit	1	6	1	6

These are ex gratia payments made to customers for loss of statutory entitlement to a benefit or where customers have suffered a financial loss. For example, where official error has led to a customer losing entitlement to a benefit that would have been received had the error not occurred or had the case been actioned in an appropriate timescale; or actual financial loss in cases where maladministration has directly caused the customer to incur additional expenditure that would not otherwise have been incurred.

6.1.c. Fraud and error in benefit payments

Background

The Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 and related legislation sets out the basis on which DfC calculates and pays benefits from the NIF. However, the complexity of the benefit systems and inherent risks associated with the award and payment of benefits can result in inaccurate payments being made in a proportion of the awards made.

Overall performance analysis

The estimated monetary amount of overpayments from the NIF due to fraud and error is £5.95 million in 2022 to 2023. This is equivalent to 0.2% of NIF benefit payments. The monetary value of the overpayments decreased from £11.38 million to £5.95 million in 2022 to 2023. The estimated monetary amount of underpayments is £11.07 million in 2022 to 2023. This is equivalent to 0.4% of NIF benefit payments. The estimated level of underpayments decreased from £12.59 million in 2021 to 2022 to £11.07 million in 2022 to 2023.

In context, the total NIF funded benefit payments administered by DfC stands at £3,101 million (£245,000 for Guardian’s Allowance administered by HMRC – see note 5.9).

Table 1: Estimated levels of overpayment and underpayment due to fraud and error

Fraud/Error	Overpayment £m 2022-23	Overpayment £m 2021-22	Overpayment % of NIF benefit expenditure 2022-23	Overpayment % of NIF benefit expenditure 2021-22	Underpayment £m 2022-23	Underpayment £m 2021-22	Underpayment % of NIF benefit expenditure 2022-23	Underpayment % of NIF benefit expenditure 2021-22
Fraud	£1.95m	£2.89m	0.1%	0.1%	0.00	0.00	0.0%	0.0%
Error	£4.00m	£8.49m	0.2%	0.3%	£11.07m	£12.59m	0.4%	0.4%
Total	£5.95m	£11.38m	0.2%	0.4%	£11.07m	£12.59m	0.4%	0.4%

Table 2: Estimated levels of overpayment and underpayment due to fraud and error by benefit

Fraud/Error	Overpayment £m 2022-23	Overpayment £m 2021-22	Overpayment % of NIF benefit expenditure  2022-23	Overpayment % of NIF benefit expenditure 2021-22	Underpayment £m 2022-23	Underpayment £m 2021-22	Underpayment % of NIF benefit expenditure 2022-23	Underpayment % of NIF benefit expenditure 2021-22
State Pension	£2.75m	£2.47m	0.1%	0.1%	£8.77m	£11.93m	0.3%	0.5%
Bereavement Benefits	£0.66m	£0.67m	5.0%	5.0%	£0.11m	£0.11m	0.8%	0.8%
Employment and Support Allowance (contributory) and Incapacity Benefit	£2.12m	£7.59m	0.6%	2.3%	£2.05m	£0.36m	0.6%	0.1%
Jobseeker’s Allowance (contributory)	£0.14m	£0.29m	6.1%	6.1%	£0.01m	£0.03m	0.6%	0.6%
Other	£0.28m	£0.36m	1.8%	2.6%	£0.13m	£0.17m	0.9%	1.2%
Total	£5.95m	£11.38m	0.2%	0.4%	£11.07m	£12.59m	0.4%	0.4%

Source: Northern Ireland DfC fraud and error estimates produced by DfC Benefit Security Risk Measurement and Analytics.

Tables 1 and 2 are based on the DfC estimates and are subject to a degree of statistical uncertainty. DfC has prepared the central estimates to a 95% confidence level with the associated uncertainty expressed as a range of plausible values called the confidence interval. DfC estimates that for 2022 to 2023 the levels of overpayment lie in the range of £4.4 million to £11.3 million; whilst the corresponding range of underpayments is from £7.7 million to £22.4 million. Customer fraud and error estimates for 2022 to 2023 use proxy values for specific benefits. Rows, columns and percentages may not sum due to rounding.

For additional information relating to the estimated levels of over/underpayments due to fraud and error, refer to the 2022 to 2023 DfC Annual Report and Accounts.

DfC continuing action and strategy

DfC administers a total benefit spend of £7.5 billion with approximately £3.1 billion relating to NI NIF benefits. Fraud and error occurs in a context where over 99% of expenditure of NIF funded benefits are paid correctly. This represents a high level of accuracy.

In 2022 to 2023, DfC has continued to apply proxy figures to Northern Ireland NIF benefits in line with the approach taken by DWP in Great Britain.

DfC’s Benefit Security Division takes the lead in driving activity to minimise fraud and error. The ‘2021–2024 Benefit Fraud, Error and Debt Strategy’ outlines at a high level the work undertaken to ensure counter fraud and error operations remain fit for purpose in the face of a rapidly changing environment. The Strategy recognises what DfC currently do well whilst remaining aware of areas in which they can do better and those where they must adapt to changing conditions. The Strategy sets out five objectives designed to minimise loss to the public purse. DfC’s aim is to prevent fraud and error from occurring where they can and, if they are able to, detect it early and take corrective action. Work to review and refresh the Strategy in preparation for a new three year term from April 2024 will commence in late 2023.

7. Accounts Direction given by HM Treasury in accordance with Section 141(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992

7.1. This direction applies to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

7.2. HMRC shall prepare a statement of the transactions on the National Insurance Fund of Northern Ireland for the year ended 31 March 2016, and subsequent financial years, in compliance with all relevant accounts and disclosure requirements in Managing Public Money and any other guidance issued by HM Treasury which is in force for that financial year.

7.3. This statement shall be prepared so as to properly present the state of affairs for the year then ended and shall comprise:

a. a foreword which shall state that the account has been prepared in accordance with the direction issued by HM Treasury in pursuance of Section 141(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992. The foreword will also include details of the following:

• statutory background

• operational responsibilities

• financial performance

• audit arrangements

• responsibilities of the Accounting Officer

b. an account of receipts and payments conforming to the format shown in the Appendix.

c. a statement of balances conforming to the format shown in the Appendix.

d. such notes as may be necessary for the purpose referred to below:

• analysis of the payments and receipts including any explanation or background that may be necessary to understand the account

• in the note on administrative costs, the estimated costs for the current year and the adjustments for previous years separately identified

• a statement of the securities in which the National Insurance Fund is invested by the National Debt Commissioners in accordance with Section 141(3) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992

• details of any irregular, uncertain or special payments

e. disclosures of any material payments or income that has not been applied to the purposes intended by Parliament or material transactions that have not conformed to the authorities which govern them.

7.4. The foreword and the account shall be signed by the Accounting Officer.

7.5. This accounts direction shall be reproduced (but with the exception of the related Appendix) as an annex to the account.

7.6. This direction supersedes the accounts direction dated 12 October 2010.

Michael Sunderland
Acting Deputy Director, Government Financial Reporting
His Majesty’s Treasury
3 June 2016

8. Glossary

• Comptroller and Auditor General – An officer of the House of Commons and head of the National Audit Office, responsible for the audit of the Fund’s Accounts 

• Managing Public Money – A publication giving guidance on how to handle public funds written by HM Treasury 

• Quinquennial – Occurring once every 5 years
• AR&A – Annual Report and Accounts
• A&RC – Audit and Risk Committee
• CEPs – Contributions Equivalent Premiums
• CRND – Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt
• DfC – Department for Communities
• DfE – Department for the Economy
• DWP – Department for Work and Pensions
• ESA – Employment Support Allowance
• ExCom – Executive Committee
• GAD – Government Actuary’s Department
• HMRC – HM Revenue and Customs
• ISA UK – International Standards on Auditing (UK)
• JMB – Joint Management Board
• NAO – National Audit Office
• NHS – National Health Service
• NICs – National Insurance Contributions
• NICO – National Insurance Contribution Office
• NIF – National Insurance Fund
• NIFAB – National Insurance Fund Accounting Board
• NINIFIA – Northern Ireland National Insurance Fund Investment Account
• NPS – An IT system used to support the National Insurance and Pay As You Earn Service
• ONS – Office of National Statistics
• PAYE – Pay As You Earn
• RTI – Real Time Information
• SA – Self Assessment
• SIRO – Senior Information Risk Owner