The Social Security (Back to Work Bonus) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Single persons who become couples

13.—(1) This regulation applies where 2 persons form a couple and within the period of 12 weeks immediately before they do so—

(a) both had entitlement to a qualifying benefit, and

(b) both were within their bonus period.

(2) In the case of a couple to whom this regulation applies, other than a couple to whom paragraph (5) applies, the amount of the bonus shall be—

(a) except where sub-paragraph (b) applies and subject to the limit imposed by regulation 8(6) (amount payable), the aggregate of the bonuses which have accrued to each member of the couple before the day they became a couple, together with any amount which accrued to the person making the claim by reference to his earnings and those of his partner after they became a couple, or

(b) where the aggregate of the bonuses which had accrued to each member of the couple before the day they became a couple exceeds £1,000, the aggregate amount.

(3) For the avoidance of doubt, in the case of a couple to whom paragraph (2)(b) applies, the amount of the bonus shall not increase by reference to any earnings payable to either member of the couple after they became a couple.

(4) This regulation applies to members of a polygamous marriage as it applies to a couple but as if references to a couple were references to the members of the polygamous marriage and references to each member of the couple were references to 2 or more members of the polygamous marriage.

(5) Where both members of the couple are entitled to a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance, bonuses accrued to each of them, whether or not the bonuses accrued before they became a couple, shall not be aggregated.