The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

[F1Extended period of sickness

55ZA.—(1) This regulation applies to a person who—

(a)has been awarded a jobseeker’s allowance;

(b)proves to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State that he is unable to work on account of some specific disease or disablement [F2(“the initial condition”)];

(c)either—

(i)declares that he has been unable to work, or [F3expects] to be unable to work, on account of [F4the initial condition or any other disease or disablement] for more than 2 weeks but [F5not] more than 13 weeks; or

(ii)is not a person to whom regulation 55(1) (short periods of sickness) applies by virtue of paragraph (3) of that regulation [F6, and declares that he has been unable to work or expects to be unable to work, on account of the initial condition or any other disease or disablement, for 2 weeks or less];

(d)during the period of his disease or disablement, satisfies the requirements for entitlement to a jobseeker’s allowance other than those specified in section 1(2)(a), (c) and (f) (availability for and actively seeking employment and capable of work or not having limited capability for work); and

(e)has not stated in writing that for the period of his disease or disablement he proposes to claim or has claimed an employment and support allowance or universal credit.

(2) The evidence which is required for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) in a case where paragraph (1)(c)(i) applies is—

(a)evidence of incapacity for work or limited capability for work in accordance with the Social Security (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1976 (which prescribe the form of a doctor’s statement or other evidence required in each case); and

(b)any such additional information as the Secretary of State may request.

(3) [F7Subject to paragraph (3A),] the evidence which is required for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) in a case where paragraph (1)(c)(ii) applies is a declaration made by the person in writing, in a form approved for the purposes by the Secretary of State, that the person has been unfit for work from a date or for a period specified in the declaration.

[F8(3A) In a case where paragraph (1)(c)(ii) applies, but the period in which the person has been unable to work or expects to be unable to work in fact exceeds 2 weeks, the evidence that is required for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) is the evidence that is required in a case where paragraph (1)(c)(i) applies.]

(4) Subject to the following paragraphs, a person to whom this regulation applies is to be treated as capable of work or as not having limited capability for work for the continuous period beginning on the first day on which he is unable to work on account of F9... disease or disablement (“the first day”) and ending on—

(a)the last such day; or

(b)if that period would otherwise exceed 13 weeks, the day which is 13 weeks after the first day.

(5) This regulation does not apply to a person on more than one occasion in any one period of 12 months starting on the first day applying for the purpose of paragraph (4).

(6) Paragraphs (4) and (5) of regulation 55 apply for the purposes of this regulation as they apply for the purposes of paragraph (1) of regulation 55.]

Textual Amendments