The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Supervised Jobsearch Pilot Scheme) Regulations 2014

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations establish a pilot scheme, known as the Supervised Jobsearch Pilot Scheme (“the Scheme”), under the Jobseekers Act 1995 (“the Jobseekers Act”). The Scheme which is prescribed in regulation 3, is a scheme within section 17A(1) of the Jobseekers Act that is designed to assist jobseeker’s allowance claimants to obtain employment by supporting them in their job search activities. A benefit sanction can be applied under section 19A of the Jobseekers Act, where a claimant selected for participation in the Scheme fails to do so without good reason.

Part 1 contains general provisions, including provisions concerning interpretation.

Part 2 concerns the circumstances in which jobseeker’s allowance claimants are required to participate in the Scheme.

Regulation 3 prescribes the Supervised Jobsearch Pilot Scheme.

Regulation 4 provides that the Secretary of State can select a claimant for participation in the Scheme in accordance with regulations 5 and 6 or regulation 6.

Regulation 5 provides that the Secretary of State may identify claimants who have not been selected for the Work Programme as suitable for selection for the Scheme on a sampling basis if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the claimant is a person who is in need of further support.

Regulation 6 provides that claimants who meet certain conditions can be selected for participation on a sampling basis. In particular, the claimant must be aged at least 18 and be registered at a Jobcentre Plus office in a pilot area. The pilot areas are set out in regulation 6(3).

Regulation 7 requires a person who has been selected to participate in the Scheme to attend an interview with the Scheme provider upon being notified by the Secretary of State and sets out the content of the initial notice.

Regulation 8 requires the Scheme provider to discuss what the claimant is required to do by way of participation in the Scheme and sets out the content of subsequent notices issued by the Scheme provider.

Regulation 9 sets out the circumstances in which a requirement to participate in the Scheme is suspended and circumstances in which a claimant is not required (or no longer required) to participate in the Scheme. These are where a participant’s award of jobseeker’s allowance terminates or where the Secretary of State gives the participant notice in writing that his or her participation is no longer required. Where the Scheme provider fails to notify the claimant of what they are required to do by way of participation in the Scheme, the requirement for the claimant to participate in the Scheme is treated as not applying until such a notice is issued.

Regulation 10 enables a person who was selected to participate in the Scheme to be referred back to the Scheme where their participation stopped before the end date as specified in their initial notice.

Part 3 makes various consequential amendments to other regulations in relation to a person’s participation in the Scheme.

Regulations 11 and 12 ensure that persons will not be treated as having notional income or notional capital by virtue of their participation in the Scheme prescribed in regulation 3 for the purposes of housing benefit, housing renewal grants and jobseeker’s allowance. Regulations 13 and 14 provide that travel and other expenses paid to participants are disregarded as income and capital for the purposes of housing benefit, housing renewal grants and jobseeker’s allowance.

Regulation 15 makes a consequential amendment to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996.

Regulation 16 makes provision for contracting out functions of the Secretary of State under the Regulations.

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.