The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015

Claimant commitment for income support

65.—(1) The Contributions and Benefits Act is amended as follows.

(2) In section 123 (income support)—

(a) in subsection (1), after paragraph (e) insert—

“(ea) he has accepted a claimant commitment;”;

(b) after subsection (1B) insert—

“(1C) Regulations may prescribe circumstances in which a person may be entitled to income support without having accepted a claimant commitment.”

(3) After that section insert—

“Claimant commitment

123A.— (1) For the purposes of this Part a “claimant commitment” is a record of the claimant’s responsibilities in relation to an award of income support.

(2) A claimant commitment is to be prepared by the Department or the Department for Employment and Learning and may be reviewed and updated as that department thinks fit.

(3) A claimant commitment is to be in such form as the Department thinks fit.

(4) A claimant commitment is to include—

(a) any prescribed information, and

(b) any other information the Department or the Department for Employment and Learning considers it appropriate to include.

(5) For the purposes of section 123 and this section a claimant accepts a claimant commitment if, and only if, the claimant accepts the most up-to-date version of it in such manner as may be prescribed.

(6) Regulations may provide that in prescribed circumstances, a claimant is to be treated as having satisfied the condition mentioned in section 123(1)(ea).”

(4) In section 2F of the Administration Act (directions about work-related activity), in subsection (3)(b), for the words from “by” to “2E” substitute “in such manner as the Department thinks fit”.

(5) In section 2G of that Act (contracting out), after subsection (1)(c) insert—

“(d) any function under section 123A of the Contributions and Benefits Act in relation to a claimant commitment.”