The Social Security (Work-focused Interviews for Lone Parents) Amendment Regulations 2007

Amendment of the Jobcentre Plus Regulations from 30th April 2007

4.—(1) The Jobcentre Plus Regulations shall be amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In regulation 4 (continuing entitlement to specified benefit dependent on an interview)(1)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(a), for “either paragraph (3) or (3A)” substitute “paragraph (3), (3B), (3D), (3F) or (3H)”;

(b) in paragraph (2), for the words after “such an interview”, substitute—

“but for—

(i) the requirement being waived in accordance with regulation 6;

(ii) the requirement being deferred in accordance with regulation 7;

(iii) the requirement not arising because the person was at the time of the claim for the specified benefit subject to provisions within the Social Security (Working Neighbourhoods) Regulations 2004(2) by virtue of regulation 2(3) of those Regulations; or

(iv) the person being required to take part in an interview under the Social Security (Quarterly Work-focused Interviews for Certain Lone Parents) Regulations 2004(3).”.

(c) for paragraphs (3) and (3A), substitute—

“(3) This paragraph applies at the times specified in paragraph (3A) where the young child condition is not satisfied (see paragraph (5B)) and where the lone parent—

(a) last took part,

(b) last failed to take part, or

(c) was last treated as having taken part,

in a relevant interview on a date or after 30th April 2006 but before 30th October 2006.

(3A) Paragraph (3) first applies one year after that date, and it applies again every six months after the day on which it first applies.

(3B) This paragraph applies at the times specified in paragraph (3C) where the young child condition is not satisfied and where the lone parent—

(a) last took part,

(b) last failed to take part, or

(c) was last treated as having taken part,

in a relevant interview on a date that was not on or after 30th April 2006 but before 30th October 2006.

(3C) Paragraph (3B) first applies six months after that date, and it applies again every six months after the day on which it first applies.

(3D) This paragraph applies at the times specified in paragraph (3E) where the young child condition is satisfied and where the interview that the lone parent—

(a) last took part in,

(b) last failed to take part in, or

(c) was last treated as having taken part in,

was the first relevant interview.

(3E) Paragraph (3D) first applies six months after the date of that first interview, and it applies again upon each anniversary of the date of that first interview.

(3F) This paragraph applies at the times specified in paragraph (3G) where the young child condition is satisfied and where the interview that the lone parent—

(a) last took part in,

(b) last failed to take part in, or

(c) was last treated as having taken part in,

was the second relevant interview.

(3G) Paragraph (3F) first applies six months after the date of that second interview, and it applies again upon each anniversary of the date on which it first applies.

(3H) This paragraph applies at the times specified in paragraph (3I) where the young child condition is satisfied and where the interview that the lone parent—

(a) last took part in,

(b) last failed to take part in, or

(c) was last treated as having taken part in,

was not the first or second relevant interview.

(3I) Paragraph (3H) first applies one year after the date of that interview, and it applies again upon each subsequent anniversary of that date.”.

(d) after paragraph (5), insert—

“(5A) In this regulation, “relevant interview” means an interview under—

(a) the Social Security (Working Neighbourhoods) Regulations 2004,

(b) the Social Security (Quarterly Work-focused Interviews for Certain Lone Parents) Regulations 2004, or

(c) these Regulations,

in relation to the lone parent’s current claim.

(5B) For the purposes of this regulation, the young child condition is satisfied where the lone parent is responsible for and living in the same household as—

(a) a single child aged under 5, or

(b) more than one child where the youngest is aged under 5.”.

(3) In regulation 8(3) (exemptions), after “2A” insert “or 2B”.

(1)

Regulation 4 was amended by S.I.s 2002/2497, 2004/959 and 2005/2727.

(2)

S.I. 2004/959.

(3)

S.I. 2004/2244.