The Social Security (Lone Parents and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

Regulation 1(2)

SCHEDULE Special commencement provisions for certain existing claimants

PART 1 Provisions relating to regulations 2, 5 and 8

Application

1.—(1) A lone parent falls within this Part of the Schedule if—

(a) the person was entitled to income support as a lone parent immediately before the relevant day;

(b) paragraph 1 is the only paragraph of Schedule 1B to the Income Support Regulations (prescribed categories of person) which applies to that person, and

(c) on the relevant day that person is responsible for—

(i) a single child aged 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15, or

(ii) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15,

who is a member of that person’s household.

(2) A person does not fall or (as the case may be) ceases to fall within this Part of this Schedule if on or after the relevant day—

(a) that person makes a further claim to income support, or

(b) regulation 13 applies to that person.

(3) In this Part of this Schedule, “relevant day” means the day after the day on which these Regulations are made.

Lone parent responsible for a child aged 15 who attains the age of 16 on or before 1st March 2009

2.—(1) This paragraph applies to a person who falls within this Part of this Schedule if, on the relevant day, that person is responsible for—

(a) a single child aged 15 whose 16th birthday occurs on or before 1st March 2009, or

(b) more than one child aged 15, the youngest of whom will attain the age of 16 on or before that date,

who is a member of that person’s household.

(2) Paragraph 1 of Schedule 1B to the Income Support Regulations shall continue to have effect in relation to a lone parent to whom this paragraph applies as if regulation 2 had not come into operation.

Lone parent responsible for a child aged 15 who attains the age of 16 after 1st March 2009

3.—(1) This paragraph applies to a person who falls within this Part of this Schedule if, on the relevant day, that person is responsible for—

(a) a single child aged 15 whose 16th birthday occurs after 1st March 2009, or

(b) more than one child aged 15, the youngest of whom will attain the age of 16 after that date,

who is a member of that person’s household.

(2) Regulation 2 comes into operation in relation to a person to whom this paragraph applies on the earlier of—

(a) the first day of the first benefit week in which a requirement to take part in a work-focused interview would, apart from this Schedule, next have arisen in relation to that person on or after 2nd March 2009, or

(b) the day on which the child in question attains the age of 16.

Lone parent responsible for a child aged 11, 12, 13 or 14

4.—(1) Regulation 2 comes into operation in relation to a person who falls within this Part of this Schedule (and to whom neither paragraph 2 nor paragraph 3 applies) in accordance with the following provisions.

(2) In the case of a person described in column (1) of the table, it comes into operation (subject to sub-paragraph (3)) on the day specified in the corresponding entry in column (2).

(3) Where—

(a) that person has claimed, or is treated as having made a claim, for a child tax credit, and

(b) the award is not decided before the day mentioned in the corresponding entry in column (2),

regulation 2 comes into operation in relation to that person at the end of the period of 4 weeks beginning with the day mentioned in that entry.

Column (1)	Column (2)
Description	Day regulation 2 takes effect
1. A lone parent who, on the relevant day, is responsible for— (a) a single child aged 14, or aged 13 and whose 14th birthday occurs on or before 1st March 2009, or (b) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 14, or aged 13 and whose 14th birthday occurs on or before that date, who is a member of that person’s household.	The first day of the first benefit week in which a requirement to take part in a work-focused interview would, apart from this Schedule, next have arisen in relation to that person on or after 2nd March 2009.
2. A lone parent who, on the relevant day, is responsible for— (a) a single child aged 13 whose 14th birthday occurs after 1st March 2009, or (b) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 13 and whose 14th birthday occurs after that date, who is a member of that person’s household.	The day on which the child in question attains the age of 14.
3. A lone parent who, on the relevant day, is responsible for— (a) a single child aged 12, or aged 11 and whose 12th birthday occurs on or before 5th July 2009, or (b) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 12, or aged 11 and whose 12th birthday occurs on or before that date, who is a member of that person’s household.	The first day of the first benefit week in which a requirement to take part in a work-focused interview would, apart from this Schedule, next have arisen in relation to that person on or after 6th July 2009.
4. A lone parent who, on the relevant day, is responsible for— (a) a single child aged 11 whose 12th birthday occurs after 5th July 2009, or (b) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 11 and whose 12th birthday occurs after that date, who is a member of that person’s household.	The day on which the child in question attains the age of 12.

Lone Parents and Work-focused Interviews Regulations: lone parent responsible for child aged 11

5.—(1) This paragraph applies to a lone parent who—

(a) falls within this Part of this Schedule, and

(b) on the relevant day, is responsible for—

(i) a single child aged 11 whose 12th birthday occurs on or before 5th July 2009, or

(ii) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 11 and whose 12th birthday occurs on or before that date,

who is a member of that person’s household.

(2) The Lone Parents Regulations and the Work-focused Interviews Regulations shall continue to have effect in relation to a lone parent to whom this paragraph applies as they had effect in relation to that person immediately before the relevant day.

PART 2 Provisions relating to regulation 3

Application

6.—(1) A lone parent falls within this Part of this Schedule if —

(a) the person was entitled to income support as a lone parent immediately before the relevant day;

(b) paragraph 1 is the only paragraph of Schedule 1B to the Income Support Regulations (prescribed categories of person) that applies to the lone parent, and

(c) on the relevant day that person is responsible for—

(i) a single child aged 9, 10 or 11, or

(ii) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 9, 10 or 11,

who is a member of that person’s household.

(2) A person does not fall or (as the case may be) ceases to fall within this Part of this Schedule if—

(a) that person falls within Part 1 of this Schedule, or

(b) on or after the relevant day—

(i) that person makes a further claim to income support, or

(ii) regulation 13 applies to that person.

(3) In this Part of this Schedule, “relevant day” means 26th October 2009.

Lone parent responsible for child aged 9, 10 or 11

7.—(1) Regulation 3 comes into operation in relation to a person who falls within this Part of this Schedule in accordance with the following provisions.

(2) In the case of a person described in column (1) of the table, it comes into operation (subject to sub-paragraph (3)) on the day specified in the corresponding entry in column (2).

(3) Where —

(a) that person has claimed, or is treated as having made a claim, for a child tax credit, and

(b) the award is not decided before the day mentioned in the corresponding entry in column (2),

regulation 3 comes into operation in relation to that person at the end of the period of 4 weeks beginning with the day mentioned in that entry.

Column (1)	Column (2)
Description	Day regulation 3 takes effect
1. A lone parent who, on the relevant day, is responsible for— (a) a single child aged 11, or aged 10 and whose 11th birthday occurs on or before 31st January 2010, or (b) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 11 or aged 10 and whose 11th birthday occurs on or before that date, who is a member of that person’s household.	The first day of the first benefit week in which a requirement to take part in a work-focused interview would, apart from this Schedule, next have arisen in relation to that person on or after 1st February 2010.
2. A lone parent who, on the relevant day, is responsible for— (a) a single child aged 10 whose 11th birthday occurs after 31st January 2010, or (b) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 10 and whose 11th birthday occurs after that date, who is a member of that person’s household.	The day on which the child in question attains the age of 11.
3. A lone parent who, on the relevant day, is responsible for— (a) a single child aged 9 whose 10th birthday occurs on or before 6th June 2010, or (b) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 9 and whose 10th birthday occurs on or before that date, who is a member of that person’s household.	The first day of the first benefit week in which a requirement to take part in a work-focused interview would, apart from this Schedule, next have arisen in relation to that person on or after 7th June 2010.
4. A lone parent who, on the relevant day, is responsible for— (a) a single child aged 9 whose 10th birthday occurs after 6th June 2010, or (b) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 9 and whose 10th birthday occurs after that date, who is a member of that person’s household.	The day on which the child in question attains the age of 10.

PART 3 Provisions relating to regulation 4

Application

8.—(1) A lone parent falls within this Part of this Schedule if—

(a) the person was entitled to income support as a lone parent immediately before the relevant day;

(b) paragraph 1 is the only paragraph of Schedule 1B to the Income Support Regulations (prescribed categories of person) that applies to the lone parent, and

(c) on the relevant day that person is responsible for—

(i) a single child aged 6, 7, 8 or 9, or

(ii) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 6, 7, 8 or 9,

who is a member of that person’s household.

(2) A person does not fall or (as the case may be) ceases to fall within this Part of this Schedule if—

(a) that person falls within Part 2 of this Schedule, or

(b) on or after the relevant day—

(i) that person makes a further claim to income support, or

(ii) regulation 13 applies to that person.

(3) In this Part of this Schedule, “relevant day” means 25th October 2010.

Lone parent responsible for child aged 6, 7, 8 or 9

9.—(1) Regulation 4 comes into operation in relation to a person who falls within this Part of this Schedule in accordance with the following provisions.

(2) In the case of a person described in column (1) of the table, it comes into operation (subject to sub-paragraph (3)) on the day specified in the corresponding entry in column (2).

(3) Where—

(a) that person has claimed, or is treated as having made a claim, for a child tax credit, and

(b) the award is not decided before the day mentioned in the corresponding entry in column (2),

regulation 4 comes into operation in relation to that person at the end of the period of 4 weeks beginning with the day mentioned in that entry.

Column (1)	Column (2)
Description	Day regulation 4 takes effect
1. A lone parent who, on the relevant day, is responsible for— (a) a single child aged 9 whose 9th birthday occurred before 25th October 2010, or (b) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 9 and whose 9th birthday occurred before that date, who is a member of that person’s household.	The first day of the first benefit week in which a requirement to take part in a work-focused interview would, apart from this Schedule, next have arisen in relation to that person on or after 25th October 2010.
2. A lone parent who, on the relevant day, is responsible for— (a) a single child who attains the age of 9 on 25th October 2010, or (b) more than one child where the youngest child attains the age of 9 on that date, who is a member of that person’s household.	25th October 2010.
3. A lone parent who, on the relevant day, is responsible for— (a) a single child aged 8 whose 9th birthday occurs after 25th October 2010, or (b) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 8 and whose 9th birthday occurs after that date, who is a member of that person’s household.	The day on which the child in question attains the age of 9.
4. A lone parent who, on the relevant day, is responsible for— (a) a single child aged 7, or aged 6 and whose 7th birthday occurs on or before 2nd January 2011, or (b) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 7, or aged 6 and whose 7th birthday occurs on or before that date, who is a member of that person’s household.	The first day of the first benefit week in which a requirement to take part in a work-focused interview would, apart from this Schedule, next have arisen in relation to that person on or after 3rd January 2011.
5. A lone parent who, on the relevant day, is responsible for— (a) a single child aged 6 whose 7th birthday occurs after 2nd January 2011, or (b) more than one child where the youngest child is aged 6 and whose 7th birthday occurs after that date, who is a member of that person’s household.	The day on which the child in question attains the age of 7.

PART 4 Interpretation

10.  In this Schedule—

“benefit week” has the same meaning as in regulation 2(1) of the Income Support Regulations;

“child” means a person aged under 16;

“child tax credit” means a child tax credit under section 8 of the Tax Credits Act 2002(1), and

“work-focused interview” means a work-focused interview conducted in accordance with Regulations made under section 2A(1)(a)(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992.

(1)

2002 c.21.

(2)

Section 2A(1)(a) was inserted by Article 54 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11))