The Social Security (Unemployment, Sickness and Invalidity Benefit and Credits) Amendment Regulations 1982

Insertion of new regulations 9A, 9B and 9C in the principal regulations

4.  The following regulations shall be inserted in the principal regulations after regulation 9—

“Availability of persons undertaking duties in an emergency

9A.— (1) Where a person is engaged, during an emergency, in duties for the benefit of others, then, while he is so engaged—

(a) he shall be deemed to be available for employment in employed earner's employment, and

(b) regulation 7(1)(h) shall apply to him as if head (ii) were omitted.

(2) For the purposes of this regulation a person is engaged in duties for the benefit of others while—

(a) providing assistance to any person whose life may be endangered or who may be exposed to the risk of serious bodily injury or whose health may be seriously impaired;

(b) protecting property of substantial value from imminent risk of serious damage or destruction; or

(c) assisting in measures being taken to prevent a serious threat to the health of the people,

as a member of a group of persons organised wholly or partly for the purpose of providing such assistance or, as the case may be, protection.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), events which may give rise to an emergency include—

(a) a fire, a flood or an explosion;

(b) a natural catastrophe;

(c) a railway or other accident;

(d) a cave or mountain accident;

(e) a person being reported missing and the organisation of a search for that person.

   

Availability of persons attending work camps

9B.— (1) Subject to paragraph (2), where a person who has given notice in accordance with paragraph (3) attends a work camp situated in Great Britain and this necessitates his residing at a place other than his usual place of residence, he shall be deemed to be available to be employed in employed earner's employment on each day, subject to a maximum of 14 days (excluding Sundays or the day substituted for it by regulation 4(1)), on which he attends the camp, and on those days regulation 7(1)(h) shall apply to him as if head (ii) were omitted.

(2) This regulation shall apply to one period only of attendance at a work camp in any calendar year.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), notice is given when it is sent or delivered, before the person concerned attends the work camp to which it relates, to the unemployment benefit office at which that person last made a written declaration as to his unemployment and his availability for employment.

(4) In this regulation, “work camp” means any place where people come together under the auspices of a charity or a local authority to provide a service of benefit to the community.

   

Availability of persons requiring 24 hours' notice of job opportunities

9C.— (1) Where on any day a person is engaged, whether by contract or otherwise, in providing a service with or without remuneration and the circumstances are such that it would not be reasonable to require him, as a condition of qualifying for unemployment benefit, to make himself available at less than 24 hours' notice—

(a) for employment in employed earner's employment,

(b) for interview in connection with any such employment for which an opportunity arises, or

(c) for interview by an officer of the Manpower Services Commission, the Department of Employment, a local education authority or the Department of Health and Social Security in connection with his availability for employment generally or in any particular case,

he shall be deemed on that day to be available for employment in employed earner's employment if ready on being given not less than 24 hours' notice to undertake suitable employment or attend for interview, as the case may require.

(2) On any day on which a person is engaged as aforesaid regulation 7(1)(h) shall apply to him as if head (ii) were omitted.”.