The Universal Credit Regulations 2013

Circumstances in which requirements must not be imposed

99.—(1) Where paragraph (3), (4), (5) or (6) applies—

(a) the Secretary of State must not impose a work search requirement on a claimant; and

(b) “able and willing immediately to take up work” under a work availability requirement means able and willing to take up paid work, or attend an interview, immediately once the circumstances set out in paragraph (3), (4), (5) or (6) no longer apply.

(2) A work search requirement previously applying to the claimant ceases to have effect from the date on which the circumstances set out in paragraph (3), (4), (5) or (6) begin to apply.

(3) This paragraph applies where—

(a) the claimant is attending a court or tribunal as a party to any proceedings or as a witness;

(b) the claimant is a prisoner;

(c) regulation 11(3) (temporary absence from Great Britain for treatment or convalescence) applies to the claimant;

(d) any of the following persons has died within the past 6 months—

(i) where the claimant was a member of a couple, the other member,

(ii) a child or qualifying young person for whom the claimant or, where the claimant is a member of a couple, the other member, was responsible, or

(iii) a child, where the claimant was the child’s parent;

(e) the claimant is, and has been for no more than 6 months, receiving and participating in a structured recovery-orientated course of alcohol or drug dependency treatment;

(f) the claimant is, and has been for no more than 3 months, a person for whom arrangements have been made by a protection provider under section 82 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005(1); or

(g) the claimant is engaged in an activity of a kind approved by the Secretary of State as being in the nature of a public duty.

(4) This paragraph applies where the claimant —

(a) is unfit for work—

(i) for a period of no more than 14 consecutive days after the date that the evidence referred to in sub-paragraph (b) is provided, and

(ii) for no more than 2 such periods in any period of 12 months; and

(b) provides to the Secretary of State the following evidence—

(i) for the first 7 days when they are unfit for work, a declaration made by the claimant in such manner and form as the Secretary of State approves that the claimant is unfit for work, and

(ii) for any further days when they are unfit for work, if requested by the Secretary of State, a statement given by a doctor in accordance with the rules set out in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Medical Evidence Regulations which provides that the person is not fit for work.

(5) This paragraph applies where the Secretary of State is satisfied that it would be unreasonable to require the claimant to comply with a work search requirement or a work availability requirement, including if such a requirement were limited in accordance with section 17(4) or 18(3) of the Act, because the claimant—

(a) is carrying out a work preparation requirement or voluntary work preparation (as defined in regulation 95(4));

(b) has temporary child care responsibilities or is dealing with a domestic emergency, funeral arrangements or other temporary circumstances; or

(c) is unfit for work for longer than the period of 14 days specified in paragraph (4)(a) or for more than 2 such periods in any period of 12 months and, where requested by the Secretary of State, provides the evidence mentioned in paragraph (4)(b)(ii).

(6) This paragraph applies where the claimant’s weekly earnings or, if the claimant is a member of a couple, the couple’s combined weekly earnings are at a level where the Secretary of State is satisfied that a work search requirement or work availability requirement should not be imposed at the present time.

(7) In this regulation “tribunal” means any tribunal listed in Schedule 1 to the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992(2).

(1)

2005 c.15.

(2)

1992 c.53.