The Social Security (Work-focused Interviews for Partners) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Good cause

12.  Matters to be taken into account in determining whether the partner or the claimant has shown good cause for the partner’s failure to take part in an interview include –

(a) that the partner misunderstood the requirement to take part in the interview due to any learning, language or literacy difficulties of the partner or any misleading information given to the partner by the officer;

(b) that the partner was attending a medical or dental appointment, or accompanying a person for whom the partner has caring responsibilities to such an appointment, and that it would have been unreasonable, in the circumstances, to rearrange the appointment;

(c) that the partner had difficulties with his normal mode of transport and that no reasonable alternative was available;

(d) that the established customs and practices of the religion to which the partner belongs prevented him attending on that day or at that time;

(e) that the partner was attending an interview with an employer with a view to obtaining employment;

(f) that the partner was actually pursuing employment opportunities as a self-employed earner;

(g) that the partner, claimant or a dependant or a person for whom the partner provides care suffered an accident, sudden illness or relapse of a chronic condition;

(h) that he was attending the funeral of a close friend or relative on the day fixed for the interview;

(i) that a disability from which the partner suffers made it impracticable for him to attend at the time fixed for the interview.