These Regulations amend the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/207) (“the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations”).

In particular, they prescribe the “Gateway to Work” course as an employment programme for the purposes of the Jobseekers Act 1995 and the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations. The effect of this is that if a person, without good cause, refuses or fails to participate in that programme, or loses his place on it through misconduct, his jobseeker’s allowance will not be payable for a prescribed period. These Regulations set that period at two weeks, regardless of whether the person has already been sanctioned in the past year or not.