The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2005

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2439) (“the principal Regulations”) to increase the numbers of persons that can be required to attend work-focused interviews as a condition of their continued entitlement to full benefit. These Regulations and the principal Regulations apply to certain persons who claim incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance, income support on the grounds of incapacity or income support whilst they are appealing against a decision which embodies a determination that they are not incapable of work (“specified benefits”).

Regulation 2 amends the principal Regulations (so that they apply to an increased number of persons) by expanding the areas of the country in which they apply. Regulation 3 and the Schedule specify those new areas of the country. (Where a claimant claims more than one specified benefit, the reference to 7th February 2005 in the definition of “relevant person” inserted by regulation 2 may be used to determine, amongst other things, the number of interviews he is required to take part in.)

Regulation 2 also amends the specified benefits so that for income support claimed whilst a person is appealing against a decision which embodies a determination that they are not incapable of work, the only relevant date is the date of that claim.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business.