Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
These Regulations amend the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (“the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations”) consequent on the requirement for certain claimants to make a joint claim for a jobseeker’s allowance.
In particular, they amend regulations 14 and 19 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations to ensure that a joint claimant is treated in the same way as a single claimant for the purposes of the conditions of entitlement to a jobseeker’s allowance. A joint claimant will be treated as available for employment and as actively seeking employment if he and his partner are absent from Northern Ireland for up to 4 weeks, and if his partner qualifies for specified pensioner or disability premiums (regulation 2(2)(a) and (b) and (3)(a) and (b)).
In addition a joint claimant will be so treated if at the date of claim by the other member of the couple he is (within prescribed limitations) in Great Britain or is abroad for the purpose of attending an interview (regulation 2(2)(c) and (3)(c)).
The Regulations also amend regulations 64 and 65 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations to ensure that the requirements for a young person to be available for and actively to seek employment are the same whether he is a member of a joint-claim couple or is a single claimant (regulation 2(4) and (5)).
These Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Social Security in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.
These Regulations do not impose a charge on business.