SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 7JOINT CLAIMS FOR JOBSEEKER'S ALLOWANCE
Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (NI 15)
3
1
Article 3 (entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance) is amended as follows.
2
In paragraph (2) (conditions of entitlement), for sub-paragraph (d) (claimant must satisfy conditions set out in Article 4 or 5) substitute—
d
satisfies the conditions set out in Article 4;
3
After paragraph (2) insert—
2A
Subject to the provisions of this Order, a claimant who is not a member of a joint-claim couple is entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance if he satisfies—
a
the conditions set out in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) and (e) to (i) of paragraph (2); and
b
the conditions set out in Article 5.
2B
Subject to the provisions of this Order, a joint-claim couple are entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance if—
a
a claim for the allowance is made jointly by the couple;
b
each member of the couple satisfies the conditions set out in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) and (e) to (i) of paragraph (2); and
c
the conditions set out in Article 5A are satisfied in relation to the couple.
2C
Regulations may prescribe circumstances in which paragraph (2A) is to apply to a claimant who is a member of a joint-claim couple.
2D
Regulations may, in respect of cases where a person would (but for the regulations) be a member of two or more joint-claim couples, make provision for only one of those couples to be a joint-claim couple; and the provision which may be so made includes provision for the couple which is to be the joint-claim couple to be nominated—
a
by the persons who are the members of the couples, or
b
in default of one of the couples being so nominated, by the Department.
4
In paragraph (4)—
a
in the definition of “an income-based jobseeker’s allowance”, at the end insert “or a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance;” and
b
after that definition insert—
“a joint-claim couple” means a married or unmarried couple who—
- a
are not members of any family whose members include a person in respect of whom a member of the couple is entitled to child benefit, and
- b
are of a prescribed description;
“a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance” means a jobseeker’s allowance entitlement to which arises by virtue of paragraph (2B).