The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

Reduced amount of allowance

68.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (4), the amount of an income-based jobseeker’s allowance which would otherwise be payable to a young person shall be reduced by a sum equal to 40% of the amount applicable in his case by way of a personal allowance determined in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 for a period of two weeks from the beginning of the first week after the adjudication officer’s decision where the young person has done any act or omission falling within section 19(5) or within 19(6)(c) or (d), unless the young person reaches the age of 18 before that two week period expires, in which case the allowance shall be payable at the full rate applicable in his case from the date he reaches the age of 18.

(2) Subject to paragraph (4), in a case where the young person or any member of his family is pregnant or seriously ill the amount of an income-based jobseeker’s allowance which would otherwise be payable to the young person shall be reduced by a sum equal to 20% of the amount applicable in his case by way of a personal allowance determined in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 for a period of two weeks from the beginning of the first week after the adjudication officer’s decision where the young person has done any act or omission falling within section 19(5) or within 19(6)(c) or (d), unless the young person reaches the age of 18 before that two week period expires, in which case the allowance shall be payable at the full rate applicable in his case from the date he reaches the age of 18.

(3) A reduction under paragraph (1) or (2) shall, if it is not a multiple of 5p, be rounded to the nearest such multiple or if it is a multiple of 2.5p but not of 5p, to the next lower multiple of 5p.

(4) If a young person’s claim for an income-based jobseeker’s allowance is terminated before the expiry of the period determined in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2), and he makes a fresh claim for the allowance, it shall be payable to him at the reduced rate determined in accordance with paragraph (1) or (2) for the balance of the time remaining of that two weeks, unless the young person reaches the age of 18 before that two week period expires, in which case the allowance shall be payable at the full rate applicable in his case from the date he reaches the age of 18.

(5) An income-based jobseeker’s allowance shall be payable to a young person at the full rate applicable in his case after the expiry of the two week period referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2).