Explanatory Memorandum

Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2010

2010 CHAPTER 13

13 August 2010

Schedules

Schedule 1 - Amendments connected to section 4

Part 1

20C: Definitions for purposes of Articles 21 and 22A

Article 20C to the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 defines the circumstances in which claimants may be sanctioned for failing to satisfy conditionality requirements. Paragraph (2) provides that a claimant is in breach of a jobseeker’s direction if he or she has without good cause, refused or failed to carry out a direction.

Paragraph (3) explains when a claimant will have failed to cooperate with a requirement to attend a training scheme and paragraph (4) explains when a claimant will be in breach of an employment programme requirement.

Paragraph (5) deals with those who have failed to fulfil an employment requirement, and paragraph (6) explains when a claimant will have failed to comply with a work-related activity requirement.

The circumstances in which people who are required to satisfy jobseeking conditions may be sanctioned are the same as they are now. People who are not required to satisfy jobseeking conditions will only be liable to sanctions if they are in breach of a jobseeker’s direction, a training scheme requirement, or a work-related activity requirement.