(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996, the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 and the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 so that the maximum period of a higher-level sanction under Article 21 of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 is 26 weeks and the maximum period of a higher-level sanction under Article 8J of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and Article 31 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 is 182 days.
Transitional provisions are also made which apply where, on the date that the Regulations come into operation, the amount of an award of jobseeker’s allowance or universal credit is subject to a reduction for a higher-level sanction for a period of 78 weeks or 546 days, as the case may be. In such a case, the reduction is to be terminated when the award of jobseeker’s allowance or universal credit has been reduced for a period of at least 26 weeks or 182 days, as the case may be.
This means that where, on the date that these Regulations come into operation, an award which is subject to a reduction for a higher-level sanction for a period of 78 weeks or 546 days—
has been reduced for at least 26 weeks or 182 days, the reduction will be terminated on that date;
has been reduced for less than 26 weeks or 182 days, the reduction will terminate once the award has been reduced for 26 weeks or 182 days.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on business and civil society organisations. This instrument has no impact on the public sector.