The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 No. 220

Regulation 35(2)

SCHEDULE 3 Special provisions relating to claims for a jobseeker’s allowance during periods connected with public holidays

1.  In this Schedule—

“Christmas and New Year holidays” means the period beginning at the start of Christmas Day and terminating at the end of New Year’s Day or, if New Year’s Day is a Sunday, at the end of 2nd January;

“Easter holidays” means the period beginning at the start of Good Friday and terminating at the end of Easter Monday.

2.  Where a claim for a jobseeker’s allowance is made during any period set out in paragraph 3, the Department may treat that claim as a claim for a period, to be specified in a decision of the Department, not exceeding—

(a) 35 days after the date of the claim where the claim is made during the period specified in paragraph 3(a); or

(b) 21 days after the date of claim where the claim is made during the period specified in paragraph 3(b) or (c).

3.  For the purposes of paragraph 2 the periods are—

(a) in the case of Christmas and the New Year holidays, a period beginning with the start of the 35th day before the first day of office closure and terminating at the end of the last day of office closure;

(b) in the case of Easter holidays, a period beginning with the start of the 16th day before the first day of office closure and terminating at the end of the last day of office closure;

(c) in the case of any other public holiday, a period beginning with the start of the 14th day before the first day of office closure and terminating at the end of the last day of office closure.