The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Circumstances in which the maximum is not to apply

9.—(1) Where a claimant who satisfies the conditions in sub-paragraph (2) has been able to meet the charges referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 without recourse to a jobseeker’s allowance, income support or supplementary benefit, the maximum determined in accordance with paragraph 4 shall not apply for the period of 13 weeks or, if alternative accommodation is found earlier, such lesser period following the date of claim except to the extent that the claimant is able to meet out of income disregarded for the purposes of Part VIII (income and capital) the balance of the actual charge over the maximum.

(2) The conditions for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) are that—

(a) the claimant has lived in the same accommodation for more than 12 months;

(b) he was able to afford the charges in respect of that accommodation when he took up residence;

(c) having regard to the availability of suitable alternative accommodation and to the circumstances mentioned in paragraph 12(5)(b) of Schedule 2 (housing costs), it is reasonable that the maximum should not apply in order to allow him time to find alternative accommodation;

(d) he is not a person who is being accommodated—

(i) by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive under Part II of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988(1), or

(ii) by a Health and Social Services Board or an HSS trust under Article 21 of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995(2) (provision of accommodation for children), and

(e) he is seeking alternative accommodation and intends to leave his present accommodation once alternative accommodation is found.

(3) Where—

(a) the claimant was a resident in a residential care home or nursing home immediately before 29th April 1985 and has continued after that date to be resident in the same accommodation, apart from any period of temporary absence;

(b) immediately before that date, the actual charge for the claimant’s accommodation was being met either wholly or partly out of the claimant’s resources, or, wholly or partly out of other resources which can no longer be made available for this purpose;

(c) since that date the Department has not at any time accepted responsibility for the making of arrangements for the provision of such accommodation for the claimant; and

(d) the adjudication officer is satisfied that, unless this provision applies in the claimant’s case, he will suffer exceptional hardship,

the maximum amount shall be the rate specified in sub-paragraph (4) if that rate exceeds the maximum which, but for this sub-paragraph, would be determined under paragraph 4.

(4) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3) the rate is either—

(a) the actual weekly charge for the accommodation immediately before 29th April 1985 plus £10, or

(b) the aggregate of the following amounts—

(i) the amount estimated under regulation 9(6) of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1983(3) as then in operation as the reasonable weekly charge for the area immediately before that date;

(ii) £26·15, and

(iii) if the claimant was entitled at that date to attendance allowance under section 35 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975(4) at the higher rate £28·60 or, as the case may be, at the lower rate, £19·10,

whichever is the lower amount.

(1)

S.I. 1988/1990 (N.I. 23)

(2)

S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2)

(3)

S.R. 1983 No. 61; relevant amending regulations are S.R. 1986 No. 240

(4)

1975 c. 15