The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

[F1Higher Pensioner Premium

20F.—(1) [F2Subject to sub-paragraph (5), the] condition is that one member of a joint-claim couple—

(a)has attained [F3the qualifying age for state pension credit] but not the age of 80, and either the additional conditions specified in paragraph 20H are satisfied in respect of him; or

(b)has attained [F4the qualifying age for state pension credit] and—

(i)was entitled to or was treated as entitled to either income support or an income-based jobseeker’s allowance and the disability premium was or, as the case may be, would have been applicable to him in respect of a benefit week within 8 weeks of [F5the date he attained the qualifying age for state pension credit] and he has, subject to sub-paragraph (2), remained continuously entitled to one of those benefits since attaining that age; or

(ii)was a member of a joint-claim couple who had been entitled to, or who had been treated as entitled to, a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance and the disability premium was or, as the case may be, would have been applicable to that couple in respect of a benefit week within 8 weeks of [F6the date either member of that couple attained the qualifying age for state pension credit] and the couple have, subject to that sub-paragraph (2), remained continuously entitled to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance since that member attained that age.

(2) For the purpose of this paragraph and paragraph 20H—

(a)once the higher pensioner premium is applicable to a joint-claim couple, if that member then ceases, for a period of eight weeks or less, to be entitled or treated as entitled to either income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance or that couple cease to be entitled to or treated as entitled to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance, he shall or, as the case may be, that couple shall, on becoming re-entitled to any of those benefits, thereafter be treated as having been continuously entitled thereto;

(b)in so far as sub-paragraph (1)(b)(i) or (ii) is concerned, if a member of a joint-claim couple ceases to be entitled or treated as entitled to either income support or an income-based jobseeker’s allowance or that couple cease to be entitled to or treated as entitled to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance for a period not exceeding eight weeks which includes [F7the date either member of that couple attained the qualifying age for state pension credit], he shall or, as the case may be, the couple shall, on becoming re-entitled to either of those benefits, thereafter be treated as having been continuously entitled thereto.

(3) In this paragraph, where a member of a joint-claim couple is a welfare to work beneficiary, sub-paragraphs (1)(b)(i) and (2)(b) shall apply to him as if for the words “8 weeks” there were substituted the words “[F8104 weeks]”.

(4) For the purposes of this paragraph, a member of a joint-claim couple shall be treated as having been entitled to income support or to an income-based jobseeker’s allowance or the couple of which he is a member shall be treated as having been entitled to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance throughout any period which comprises only days on which a member was participating in an employment zone scheme and was not entitled to—

(a)income support because, as a consequence of his participation in that scheme, he was engaged in remunerative work or had income in excess of the claimant’s applicable amount as prescribed in Part IV of the Income Support Regulations; or

(b)a jobseeker’s allowance because, as a consequence of his participation in that scheme, he was engaged in remunerative work or failed to satisfy the condition specified in section 2(1)(c) or the couple of which he was a member failed to satisfy the condition in section 3A(1)(a).

[F9(5) The condition is not satisfied if the member of the joint-claim couple to whom sub-paragraph (1) refers is a long-term patient.]]

Textual Amendments

F2Words in Sch. 1 para. 20F(1) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(6) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/719), regs. 1(6), 3(8)(h)(i)

F9Sch. 1 para. 20F(5) inserted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(6) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/719), regs. 1(6), 3(8)(h)(ii)