The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Extension of the Intensive Activity Period) Amendment Regulations 2007

Statutory Instruments

2007 No. 1316

social security

The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Extension of the Intensive Activity Period) Amendment Regulations 2007

Made

24th April 2007

Laid before Parliament

30th April 2007

Coming into force

1st June 2007

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 19(10)(c), 35(1) and 36(2) of the Jobseekers Act 1995(1).

The Social Security Advisory Committee has agreed that proposals in respect of these Regulations should not be referred to it(2).

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Jobseeker’s Allowance (Extension of the Intensive Activity Period) Amendment Regulations 2007 and shall come into force on 1st June 2007.

Amendment of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

2.—(1) The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 75(1)(a)(iv) (interpretation)(4), for “50 years” substitute “60 years”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Jim Murphy

Minister of State,

Department for Work and Pensions

24th April 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Sections 19 and 20A of the Jobseekers Act 1995 provide that jobseeker’s allowance may not be payable to a claimant who refuses or fails without good cause to take part in an employment programme when directed to do so. The term “employment programme” is defined in regulation 75(1) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996. One of the programmes referred to in that regulation is the Intensive Activity Period.

That programme is being extended so that jobseeker’s allowance claimants aged from 50 to 59 inclusive can be directed to participate. (It was previously mandatory only for claimants aged between 25 and 50 years.) These Regulations amend the reference to the Intensive Activity Period in regulation 75(1) so as to reflect that extension.

A full Regulatory Impact Assessment has not been produced for this instrument because it has no impact on the costs of business, charities or voluntary bodies.

(1)

1995 c.18. Section 35(1) is cited because of the meaning it gives to the words “prescribed” and “regulations”. Both of those meanings were amended by paragraph 62 of Schedule 3 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c.2).

(2)

See section 173(1)(b) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c.5). Paragraph 67 of Schedule 2 to the Jobseekers Act 1995 added that Act to the list of “relevant enactments” in respect of which regulations must normally be referred to the Committee.

(3)

S.I. 1996/207.

(4)

Head (iv) was inserted by S.I. 2001/1029.