Amendment of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations5

1

The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 199621 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (9).

2

In regulation 1(2) (interpretation), after the definition of “public authority22” insert—

  • “qualifying age for state pension credit” means—

    1. a

      in the case of a woman, pensionable age; or

    2. b

      in the case of a man, the age which is pensionable age in the case of a woman born on the same day as the man;

3

In regulation 49(1)(b) (person approaching retirement and the jobseeking period), for “the age of 60” substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

4

In Schedule A123 (categories of members of a joint-claim couple who are not required to satisfy the conditions in Article 3(2B)(b) of the Order), for paragraph 13 and the heading preceding it, substitute—

Members who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit13

A member who has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit.

5

In Schedule 1 (applicable amounts)—

a

in paragraph 10 (pensioner premium for persons over 60)—

i

in the heading for “over 60” substitute “over the qualifying age for state pension credit”,

ii

for “the age of 60”, in each place where it occurs, substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

b

in paragraph 12 (higher pensioner premium)—

i

in sub-paragraph (1)24 for “the age of 60”, in each place where it occurs, substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”,

ii

in sub-paragraphs (1)(a)(ii) and (2)(b), for “his 60th birthday” substitute “the date he attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

c

in paragraph 13(1)25 (disability premium), for “the age of 60”, in each place where it occurs, substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

d

in paragraph 15A(1)26 (enhanced disability premium), for “is aged less than 60” substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

e

in paragraph 20(2) (weekly amounts of premiums specified in Part III) for “aged over 60” substitute “who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

f

in paragraph 20E27 (pensioner premium where one member of a joint-claim couple has attained the age of 60) and the heading preceding it for “the age of 60” substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

g

in paragraph 20F (higher pensioner premium)—

i

in sub-paragraph (1)(a) and (b)28 for “the age of 60” substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

ii

in sub-paragraph (1)(b)(i) for “his 60th birthday” substitute “the date he attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”,

iii

in sub-paragraphs (1)(b)(ii) and (2)(b) for “the 60th birthday of either member of that couple” substitute “the date either member of that couple attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

h

in paragraph 20G(1)29 (disability premium), for “the age of 60” substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

i

in paragraph 20IA(1)30 (enhanced disability premium), for “is aged less than 60” substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

j

in paragraph 20M(1) (weekly amounts of premiums specified in Part IVA) for “is aged over 60” substitute “has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

6

In Schedule 2 (housing costs), in paragraph 8(1)(a)31 (general exclusions from paragraphs 6 and 7), for “is aged 60 or over” substitute “has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

7

In Schedule 5 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings), in paragraph 5—

a

in sub-paragraph (3)(b) for “is under the age of 60” substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

b

in sub-paragraphs (4)(b) and (7)(a)(i)32, (b) and (c) for “the age of 60” substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

8

In Schedule 5A33 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings of members of joint-claim couples), in paragraph 1—

a

in sub-paragraph (3)(b), for “is under the age of 60” substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

b

in sub-paragraphs (4)(b) and (5)(a)(i)34, (b) and (c) for “the age of 60” substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

9

In Schedule 7 (capital to be disregarded), in paragraph 4(a) for “is aged 60 or over” substitute “has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.