Jobseekers Act 1995

12 After section 151, insert—

“151A Jobseeker’s allowance.

“151A (1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, payments to any person of a jobseeker’s allowance in respect of any period shall be charged to income tax under Schedule E.

(2) Where the amount of a jobseeker’s allowance paid to any person in respect of any week or part of a week exceeds the taxable maximum for that period as defined below, the excess shall not be taxable.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) above, the taxable maximum in respect of a week shall be determined in accordance with subsections (4) to (8) below and the taxable maximum in respect of part of a week shall be equal to one-seventh of the taxable maximum in respect of a week multiplied by the number of days in the part.

(4) Where an income-based jobseeker’s allowance is paid to one of a married or unmarried couple, in a case which does not fall within subsection (8) below, the taxable maximum in respect of a week shall be equal to the portion of the applicable amount which is included in respect of them for that week.

(5) Where a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance is paid to a person (“the claimant") who is a member of a married or unmarried couple, the taxable maximum in respect of a week shall be equal to the portion of the applicable amount which would be included in respect of them if an income-based jobseeker’s allowance was payable to the claimant for that week.

(6) Where an income-based jobseeker’s allowance is paid to a person who is not a member of a married or unmarried couple, the taxable maximum in respect of a week shall be equal to the age-related amount which would be applicable to him if a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance was payable to him for that week.

(7) Where a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance is paid to a person who is not a member of a married or unmarried couple, the taxable maximum in respect of a week shall be equal to the age-related amount which is applicable to him for that week.

(8) Where an income-based jobseeker’s allowance is paid to a person (“the claimant”) who is a member of a married or unmarried couple, the other member of which is prevented by section 14 of the Jobseekers Act 1995 (trade disputes) or any corresponding enactment in Northern Ireland from being entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance, the taxable maximum in respect of a week shall be equal to half the portion of the applicable amount which is included in respect of them for that week.

(9) In this section—

• “age-related amount” and “applicable amount” mean the amounts determined as such in accordance with regulations made under section 4 of the Jobseekers Act 1995 or, for Northern Ireland, regulations made under any corresponding enactment in Northern Ireland; and

• “contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance”, “income-based jobseeker’s allowance”, “married couple” and “unmarried couple” have the same meanings as in the Jobseekers Act 1995 or, for Northern Ireland, the same meanings as in any corresponding enactment in Northern Ireland.”