The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Expected hours

9.—(1) The expected number of hours per week in relation to a claimant for the purposes of determining any limitations on work search or work availability requirements is 35 unless some lesser number of hours applies in the claimant’s case under paragraph (2).

(2) The lesser number of hours referred to in paragraph (1) is—

(a) where—

(i) the claimant is a relevant carer, a responsible carer or a responsible foster parent; and

(ii) the Department is satisfied that the claimant has reasonable prospects of obtaining paid work,

the number of hours, being less than 35, that the Department considers is compatible with those caring responsibilities;

(b) where the claimant is a responsible carer or a responsible foster carer for a child under the age of 13, the number of hours that the Department considers is compatible with their caring responsibilities for the child during the child’s normal school hours (including the normal time it takes the child to travel to and from school); or

(c) where the claimant has a physical or mental impairment, the number of hours that the Department considers is reasonable in light of the impairment.