The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

Circumstances in which a person is to be treated as available

[F114A.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies where a person (V) notifies the Secretary of State, in such manner as the Secretary of State specifies, that—

(a)domestic violence has been inflicted on or threatened against V by V’s partner or former partner or a family member, during the period of 26 weeks ending on the date of the notification; and

(b)at the time of the notification, V is not living at the same address as the person who inflicted domestic violence on or threatened it against V.

(2) Where this paragraph applies V is to be treated as being available for employment for a period of 4 weeks (“the 4 week exemption period”) beginning on the date of V’s notification to the Secretary of State under paragraph (1).

(3) V is to be treated as available for employment under paragraph (2)—

(a)whether or not V is entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance for the whole or part of the 4 week exemption period; and

(b)on only one occasion in any 12 month period.

(4) Paragraph (6) applies where domestic violence has been inflicted on or threatened against V by V’s partner or former partner or a family member.

(5) Domestic violence is only to be regarded as having been inflicted on or threatened against V for the purpose of paragraph (4) if V provides relevant evidence to the Secretary of State during the 4 week exemption period.

(6) Where this paragraph applies, V is to be treated as being available for employment for a period of 13 weeks (“the 13 week exemption period”) beginning on the date of V’s notification to the Secretary of State under paragraph (1).

(7) Subject to paragraphs (8) and (9), the 13 week exemption period shall apply for 13 consecutive weeks, whether or not V is entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance for the whole or part of that period.

(8) After the first 4 weeks of the 13 week exemption period, V may notify the Secretary of State that V no longer wishes to be treated as available for employment by virtue of paragraph (6).

(9) Where V gives such a notification to the Secretary of State, the 13 week exemption period—

(a)shall be suspended from the date of the notification until the date on which V gives a further notification to the Secretary of State that V wishes again to be treated as available for employment by virtue of paragraph (6); and

(b)shall not apply at any time after the expiry of 12 months from the date of the notification referred to in paragraph (1).

(10) For the purpose of this regulation—

[F2“coercive behaviour” means an act of assault, humiliation or intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish or frighten V;

“controlling behaviour” means an act designed to make V subordinate or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance or escape or regulating their everyday behaviour;

“domestic violence” means any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling behaviour, coercive behaviour, violence or abuse including but not limited to—

(a)

psychological abuse;

(b)

physical abuse;

(c)

sexual abuse;

(d)

financial abuse; and

(e)

emotional abuse;

regardless of the gender or sexuality of V;.]

“family member” means the following members of the family of V, V’s partner or V’s former partner – grandparent, grandchild, parent, parent-in-law, son, son-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, step-parent, step-son, step-daughter, brother, brother-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, or, if any of the preceding persons is a member of a couple, the other member of that couple,

“health care professional” means a person who is a member of a profession regulated by a body mentioned in section 25(3) of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002,

“person acting in an official capacity” means a health care professional, a police officer, a registered social worker, V’s employer or a representative of V’s trade union and any public, voluntary or charitable body which has had direct contact with V in connection with domestic violence,

“registered social worker” means a person registered as a social worker in a register maintained by—

(a)

[F3Social Work England,

(b)

[F4Social Care Wales,]

(c)

the Scottish Social Services Council, or

(d)

the Northern Ireland Social Care Council,

“relevant evidence” means written evidence from a person acting in an official capacity showing that—

(a)

V’s circumstances are consistent with those of a person who has had domestic violence inflicted on or threatened against them during the period of 26 weeks ending on the date of the notification referred to in paragraph (1); or

(b)

V has made contact with the person acting in an official capacity in relation to such an incident, which occurred during that period.]]

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)