The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Universal credit and new style JSA – work-related requirements

6.—(1) As a consequence of the outbreak of coronavirus disease, where a person has an award of new style JSA or an award of universal credit—

(a) the Department must not impose a work search requirement(1) on that person;

(b) a work search requirement previously applying to such a person ceases to have effect from the date on which these Regulations come into operation; and

(c) “able and willing immediately to take up paid work” under a work availability requirement(2)imposed on such a person means able and willing to take up paid work, or attend an interview, immediately once this regulation ceases to apply.

(2) This regulation applies for a period of 3 months beginning with the date that these Regulations come into operation and the Department may extend that period for all cases or any class of case where it appears expedient as a consequence of the continuation of the outbreak of coronavirus disease.

(3) In this regulation, “new style JSA” means an allowance under the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 as amended by the amendments made by Part 1 of Schedule 12 to the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 that remove references to an income-based allowance.

(1)

See Article 8D of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and Article 22 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015.

(2)

See Article 8E of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and Article 23 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015.