Search Legislation

The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

Changes to legislation:

There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to Schedule 6:

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Instrument associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Instrument (including any effects on those provisions):

Regulations 99(2), 101(2) and 106(6)

SCHEDULE 6 SUMS TO BE DISREGARDED IN THE CALCULATION OF EARNINGS

[F11.(1) In the case of a claimant who has been engaged in remunerative work as an employed earner or, had the employment been in Great Britain, would have been so engaged—

(a)any earnings, other than items to which sub-paragraph (2) applies, paid or due to be paid from that employment which terminated before the first day of entitlement to a jobseeker’s allowance;

(b)any earnings, other than a payment of the nature described in [F2sub-paragraph (2)(a) or (b)(ii)], paid or due to be paid from that employment which has not been terminated where the claimant is not—

(i)engaged in remunerative work, or

(ii)suspended from his employment.

(2) This sub-paragraph applies to—

[F3(a)any payment of the nature described in—

(i)regulation 98(1)(d), or

(ii)section 28, 64 or 68 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (guarantee payments, suspension from work on medical or maternity grounds); and]

(b)any award, sum or payment of the nature described in—

(i)regulation 98(1)(f) or (g), or

(ii)section 34 or 70 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (guarantee payments and suspension from work: complaints to employment tribunals),

including any payment made following the settlement of a complaint to an employment tribunal or of court proceedings.

Textual Amendments

F2Words in Sch. 6 para. 1(1)(b) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2655), regs. 1(2)(b), 4(14)(a)

F3Sch. 6 para. 1(2)(a) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2655), regs. 1(2)(b), 4(14)(b)

1A.  If the claimant’s partner has been engaged in remunerative work as an employed earner or, had the employment been in Great Britain, would have been so engaged, any earnings paid or due to be paid on termination of that employment by way of retirement but only if—

(a)on retirement the partner is entitled to a retirement pension under the Benefits Act, or

(b)the only reason the partner is not entitled to a retirement pension under the Benefits Act is because the contribution conditions are not satisfied.]

Textual Amendments

[F41B.  If the claimant’s partner has been engaged in remunerative work as an employed earner or, had the employment been in Great Britain, would have been so engaged, any earnings paid or due to be paid on termination of that employment by way of retirement but only if—

(a)on retirement the partner is entitled to a state pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act 2014, or

(b)the only reason the partner is not entitled to a state pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act 2014 is because the partner does not have the minimum number of qualifying years.]

Textual Amendments

[F12.(1) In the case of a claimant to whom this paragraph applies, any earnings (other than items to which paragraph 1(2) applies) which relate to employment which ceased before the first day of entitlement to a jobseeker’s allowance whether or not that employment has terminated.

(2) This paragraph applies to a claimant who has been engaged in part-time employment as an employed earner or, had the employment been in Great Britain, would have been so engaged; but it does not apply to a claimant who has been suspended from his employment.]

Textual Amendments

3.  Any payment to which regulation 98(1)(f) applies—

(a)which is due to be paid more than 52 weeks after the date of termination of the employment in respect of which the payment is made; or

(b)which is a compensatory award within the meaning of section [F5118(1)(b) of the Employment Rights Act 1996] for so long as such an award remains unpaid and the employer is insolvent within the meaning of section 127 of that Act.

4.  In the case of a claimant who has been engaged in remunerative work or part-time employment as a self-employed earner or, had the employment been in Great Britain, would have been so engaged and who has ceased to be so employed, from the date of the cessation of his employment any earnings derived from that employment except earnings to which regulation 95(2) (royalties etc.) applies.

5.—(1) In a case to which this paragraph applies, £15; but notwithstanding regulation 88 (calculation of income and capital of members of claimant’s family and of a polygamous marriage), if this paragraph applies to a claimant it shall not apply to his partner except where, and to the extent that, the earnings of the claimant which are to be disregarded under this paragraph are less than [F6£20].

(2) This paragraph applies where the claimant’s applicable amount includes, or but for his being an in-patientF7... F8... would include, an amount by way of a disability premium under Schedule 1 (applicable amounts).

(3) This paragraph applies where–

(a)the claimant is a member of a couple, and–

(i)his applicable amount would include an amount by way of the disability premium under Schedule 1 but for the higher pensioner premium under that Schedule being applicable; or

(ii)had he not been an in-patient F9... F10... his applicable amount would include the higher pensioner premium under that Schedule and had that been the case he would also satisfy the condition in (i) above; and

(b)he or his partner [F11has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit] and at least one is engaged in part-time employment.

(4) This paragraph applies where–

(a)the claimant’s applicable amount includes, or but for his being an in-patient F12...F13... would include, an amount by way of the higher pensioner premium under Schedule 1; and

(b)the claimant or, if he is a member of a couple, either he or his partner has attained [F14the qualifying age for state pension credit]; and

(c)immediately before attaining that age he or, as the case may be, he or his partner was engaged in part-time employment and the claimant was entitled by virtue of sub-paragraph (2) or (3) to a disregard of [F6£20]; and

(d)he or, as the case may be, he or his partner has continued in part-time employment.

F15(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F15(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) For the purposes of this paragraph–

(a)except where head (b) or (c) applies, no account shall be taken of any period not exceeding eight consecutive weeks occurring—

(i)on or after the date on which the claimant or, if he is a member of a couple, he or his partner attained [F16the qualifying age for state pension credit] during which either was or both were not engaged in part-time employment or the claimant was not entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance[F17, income support or an employment and support allowance]; or

(ii)immediately after the date on which the claimant or his partner ceased to participate in arrangements for training made under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973 F18 or section 2 of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 F19 or to participate in an employment rehabilitation programme established under that section of the 1973 Act;

(b)in a case where the claimant has ceased to be entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance[F17, income support or an employment and support allowance] because he, or if he is a member of a couple, he or his partner becomes engaged in remunerative work, no account shall be taken of any period, during which he was not entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance[F17, income support or an employment and support allowance], not exceeding the permitted period, occurring on or after the date on which the claimant or, as the case may be, his partner attained [F20the qualifying age for state pension credit];

(c)no account shall be taken of any period occurring on or after the date on which the claimant or, if he is a member of a couple, he or his partner attained [F21the qualifying age for state pension credit] during which the claimant was not entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance[F17, income support or an employment and support allowance] because he or his partner was participating in arrangements for training made under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973 or section 2 of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 or participating in an employment rehabilitation programme established under that section of the 1973 Act;

Textual Amendments

F6Word in Sch. 6 para. 5 substituted (1.4.2001 for specified purposes, 2.4.2001 for specified purposes, 9.4.2001 in so far as not already in force) by The Social Security Amendment (Capital Limitsand Earnings Disregards) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2545), regs. 1(1)(a)(ii)(b)(c), 3, Sch. para. 3(b)(i) (with reg. 4)

F181973 c.50; section 2 was amended by section 25(1) of the Employment Act 1988 (c.19), Part I of Schedule 7 to the Employment Act 1989 (c.38), and section 47(1) of the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993 (c.19).

[F226.  In a case where the claimant is a lone parent and paragraph 5 does not apply,] [F23£20].

Textual Amendments

F23Word in Sch. 6 para. 6 substituted (1.4.2001 for specified purposes, 2.4.2001 for specified purposes, 9.4.2001 in so far as not already in force) by The Social Security Amendment (Capital Limitsand Earnings Disregards) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2545), regs. 1(1)(a)(ii)(b)(c), 3, Sch. para. 3(b)(ii)

7.—(1) In a case to which neither paragraph 5 or 6 applies to the claimant, and subject to sub-paragraph (2), where the claimant’s applicable amount includes an amount by way of the carer premium under Schedule 1 (applicable amounts), [F24£20] of the earnings of the person who is, or at any time in the preceding eight weeks was, in receipt of [F25carer’s allowance] or treated in accordance with paragraph 17(2) of that Schedule as being in receipt of invalid care allowance.

(2) Where the carer premium is awarded in respect of the claimant and of any partner of his, their earnings shall for the purposes of this paragraph be aggregated, but the amount to be disregarded in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) shall not exceed [F24£20] of the aggregated amount.

Textual Amendments

F24Word in Sch. 6 para. 7 substituted (1.4.2001 for specified purposes, 2.4.2001 for specified purposes, 9.4.2001 in so far as not already in force) by The Social Security Amendment (Capital Limitsand Earnings Disregards) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2545), regs. 1(1)(a)(ii)(b)(c), 3, Sch. para. 3(b)(iii)

8.  Where the carer premium is awarded in respect of a claimant who is a member of a couple and whose earnings are less than [F26£20], but is not awarded in respect of the other member of the couple, and that other member is engaged in an employment—

(a)specified in paragraph 9(1), so much of the other member’s earnings as would not when aggregated with the amount disregarded under paragraph 7 exceed [F26£20];

(b)other than one specified in paragraph 9(1), so much of the other member’s earnings from such other employment up to £5 as would not when aggregated with the amount disregarded under paragraph 7 exceed [F26£20].

Textual Amendments

F26Word in Sch. 6 para. 8 substituted (1.4.2001 for specified purposes, 2.4.2001 for specified purposes, 9.4.2001 in so far as not already in force) by The Social Security Amendment (Capital Limitsand Earnings Disregards) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2545), regs. 1(1)(a)(ii)(b)(c), 3, Sch. para. 3(b)(iv)

9.—(1) In a case to which none of paragraphs 5 to 8 applies to the claimant, [F27£20] of earnings derived from one or more employments as—

F28(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F29(aa). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F30(ab). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F31(a)a part-time fire-fighter employed by a fire and rescue authority under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 or by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service established under section 1A of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005;]

(b)an auxiliary coastguard in respect of coast rescue activities;

(c)a person engaged part-time in the manning or launching of a lifeboat;

(d)a member of any F32... reserve force prescribed in Part I of [F33Schedule 6 to the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001];

but, notwithstanding regulation 88 (calculation of income and capital of members of claimant’s family and of a polygamous marriage), if this paragraph applies to a claimant it shall not apply to his partner except to the extent specified in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) If the claimant’s partner is engaged in employment–

(a)specified in sub-paragraph (1), so much of his earnings as would not in aggregate with the amount of the claimant’s earnings disregarded under this paragraph exceed [F27£20];

(b)other than one specified in sub-paragraph (1), so much of his earnings from that employment up to £5 as would not in aggregate with the claimant’s earnings disregarded under this paragraph exceed [F27£20].

Textual Amendments

F27Word in Sch. 6 para. 9 substituted (1.4.2001 for specified purposes, 2.4.2001 for specified purposes, 9.4.2001 in so far as not already in force) by The Social Security Amendment (Capital Limitsand Earnings Disregards) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2545), regs. 1(1)(a)(ii)(b)(c), 3, Sch. para. 3(b)(v)

10.  Where the claimant is engaged in one or more employments specified in paragraph 9(1) but his earnings derived from such employments are less than [F34£20] in any week and he is also engaged in any other part-time employment, so much of his earnings from that other employment up to £5 as would not in aggregate with the amount of his earnings disregarded under paragraph 9 exceed [F34£20].

Textual Amendments

F34Word in Sch. 6 para. 10 substituted (1.4.2001 for specified purposes, 2.4.2001 for specified purposes, 9.4.2001 in so far as not already in force) by The Social Security Amendment (Capital Limits and Earnings Disregards) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2545), regs. 1(1)(a)(ii)(b)(c), 3, Sch. para. 3(b)(vi)

11.  Where the claimant is a member of a couple F35...–

(a)in a case to which none of paragraphs 5 to 10 applies, £10; but, notwithstanding regulation 88 (calculation of income and capital of members of a claimant’s family and of a polygamous marriage), if this paragraph applies to a claimant it shall not apply to his partner except where, and to the extent that, the earnings of the claimant which are to be disregarded under this sub-paragraph are less than £10;

(b)in a case to which one or more of paragraphs 5 to 10 applies and the total amount disregarded under those paragraphs is less than £10, so much of the claimant’s earnings as would not in aggregate with the amount disregarded under paragraphs 5 to 10 exceed £10.

Textual Amendments

F35Words in Sch. 6 para. 11 omitted (7.10.1996) by virtue of The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1516), regs. 1(1), 19

12.  In a case to which none of paragraphs 5 to 11 applies to the claimant, £5.

13.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Schedule, where two or more payments of the same kind and from the same source are to be taken into account in the same benefit week, because it has not been practicable to treat the payments under regulation 96(1)(b) (date on which income treated as paid) as paid on the first day of the benefit week in which they were due to be paid, there shall be disregarded from each payment the sum that would have been disregarded if the payment had been taken into account on the date on which it was due to be paid.

14.  Any earnings derived from employment which are payable in a country outside the United Kingdom for such period during which there is a prohibition against the transfer to the United Kingdom of those earnings.

15.  Where a payment of earnings is made in a currency other than sterling, any banking charge or commission payable in converting that payment into sterling.

16.  Any earnings which are due to be paid before the date of claim and which would otherwise fall to be taken into account in the same benefit week as a payment of the same kind and from the same source.

17.  Any earnings of a child or young person [F36except earnings to which paragraph 18 applies].

Textual Amendments

F36Words in Sch. 6 para. 17 omitted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6)(7)(8) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 2 para. 22(a)

18.  [F37In the case of earnings of a child or young person who although not receiving full-time education for the purposes of section 142 of the Benefits Act (meaning of “child") is nonetheless treated for the purposes of these Regulations as receiving relevant education and who is engaged in remunerative work–

(a)if an amount by way of a disabled child premium under Schedule 1 (applicable amounts) isF38... included in the calculation of his applicable amount and his earning capacity is not, by reason of his disability, less than 75 per cent. of that which he would, but for that disability, normally be expected to earn, [F39£20];

(b)in any other case, £5.]

Textual Amendments

F37Sch. 6 para. 18 omitted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6)(7)(8) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 2 para. 22(b)

F39Word in Sch. 6 para. 18 substituted (1.4.2001 for specified purposes, 2.4.2001 for specified purposes, 9.4.2001 in so far as not already in force) by The Social Security Amendment (Capital Limitsand Earnings Disregards) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2545), regs. 1(1)(a)(ii)(b)(c), 3, Sch. para. 3(b)(vii)

[F4019.(1) In the case of a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance, where by reason of earnings to which sub-paragraph (3) applies (in aggregate with the claimant’s other earnings (if any) calculated in accordance with this Part) the claimant would (apart from this paragraph) have a personal rate of less than 10 pence, the amount of such earnings but only to the extent that that amount exceeds the claimant’s personal rate less 10 pence.

(2) In the case of an income-based jobseeker’s allowance, where earnings to which sub-paragraph (3) applies (in aggregate with the claimant’s other income (if any) calculated in accordance with this Part) exceed the applicable amount less 10 pence, the amount of those earnings corresponding to that excess.

(3) This sub-paragraph applies to earnings, in so far as they exceed the amount disregarded under paragraph 9, derived by the claimant from employment as a member of any F41... reserve force prescribed in Part 1 of Schedule 6 to the Contributions Regulations in respect of a period of annual continuous training for a maximum of 15 days in any calendar year [F42or in respect of training in the claimant’s first year of training as a member of a reserve force for a maximum of 43 days in that year.]

(4) In sub-paragraph (1), “personal rate” means the rate for the claimant calculated as specified in section 4(1) of the Act.]

20.  In this Schedule “part-time employment" means employment in which the person is not to be treated as engaged in remunerative work under regulation 52 or 53 (persons treated as engaged, or not engaged, in remunerative work).

21.  In paragraph 5(7)(b) “permitted period" means a period determined in accordance with regulation 3A of the Income Support Regulations F43, as it has effect by virtue of regulation 87(7) of these Regulations.

Textual Amendments

F43Regulation 3A was inserted by S.I. 1989/1678 and is amended by S.I. 1996/206.

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Instrument

The Whole Instrument you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Instrument as a PDF

The Whole Instrument you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Instrument

The Whole Instrument you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Instrument without Schedules

The Whole Instrument without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open Schedules only

The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as made version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources