21:Certain circumstances in which a jobseeker’s allowance is not payable
New Article 21 of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 describes circumstances in which jobseeker’s allowance can be disallowed for a ‘relevant period’ because the claimant has failed to satisfy the requirements under Articles 20A and 20B of that Order even though the claimant may meet the other conditions for entitlement to the benefit. This applies to claims which are not part of a joint-claim.
Paragraphs (2) and (3) list the circumstances in which jobseeker’s allowance can be disallowed under this Article with respect to claimants who are required to meet the jobseeking conditions and to those claimants who are not so required.
Paragraphs (4) and (5) provide a power that will enable regulations to be made to determine the ‘relevant period’ over which the sanction is to apply. That period must be at least one week and not more than 26 weeks.
Paragraph (6) provides for regulations to prescribe circumstances which must be taken into account and those which must not be taken into account in determining the sanction period.
