The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

Linking rule

13.—(1) Subject to [F1 sub-paragraphs (2) and (2A)] for the [F2 purposes] of this Schedule–

(a) a person shall be treated as being in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance during the following periods—

(i) any period in respect of which it was subsequently held, on appeal or [F3 revision], that he was so entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance; and

(ii) any period of 12 weeks or less [F4 or, as the case may be, 52 weeks or less,] in respect of which he was not in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance and which fell immediately between periods in respect of which F5 ...;

[F6 (aa) he was, or was treated as being, in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance,

(bb) he was treated as entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance for the purposes of sub-paragraphs (5), (6) and (7), or

(cc) (i) above applies;]

(b) a person shall be treated as not being in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance during any period other than a period to which (a)(ii) above applies in respect of which it is subsequently held on appeal[F7 , revision or supersession] that he was not so entitled;

(c) where–

(i) the claimant was a member of a couple or a polygamous marriage; and

(ii) his partner was, in respect of a past period, in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance for himself and the claimant; and

(iii) the claimant is no longer a member of that couple or polygamous marriage; and

(iv) the claimant made his claim for a jobseeker’s allowance within twelve weeks [F8 or, as the case may be, 52 weeks,] of ceasing to be a member of that couple or polygamous marriage,

he shall be treated as having been in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance for the same period as his former partner had been or had been treated, for the purposes of this Schedule, as having been;

(d) where the claimant’s partner’s applicable amount was determined in accordance with paragraph 1(1) (single claimant) or paragraph 1(2) (lone parent) of Schedule 1 (applicable amounts) in respect of a past period, provided that the claim was made within twelve weeks [F9 or, as the case may be, 52 weeks,] of the claimant and his partner becoming one of a couple or polygamous marriage, the claimant shall be treated as having been in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance for the same period as his partner had been or had been treated, for the purposes of this Schedule, as having been;

[F10 (dd) where the applicable amount of a member of a joint-claim couple was determined in accordance with paragraph 1(1) (single claimant) or paragraph 1(2) (lone parent) of Schedule 1 (applicable amounts) in respect of a past period, provided that the claim was made within twelve weeks of the joint-claimant becoming a member of the joint-claim couple, the joint-claim couple shall be treated as having been in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance for the same period as that member of the joint-claim couple had been treated, for the purposes of this Schedule, as having been;]

(e) where the claimant is a member of a couple or a polygamous marriage and his partner was, in respect of a past period, in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance for himself and the claimant, and the claimant has begun to receive a jobseeker’s allowance as a result of an election by the members of the couple or polygamous marriage, he shall be treated as having been in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance for the same period as his partner had been or had been treated, for the purposes of this Schedule, as having been;

[F11 (ee) where the claimant—

(i) is a member of a couple or a polygamous marriage and the claimant’s partner was, immediately before the participation by any member of that couple or polygamous marriage in an employment programme specified in regulation 75(1)(a)(ii)[F12 , in the Intensive Activity Period specified in regulation 75(1)(a)(iv) or in the Intensive Activity Period for 50 plus], in receipt of income-based jobseeker’s allowance and his applicable amount included an amount for the couple or for the partners of the polygamous marriage; and

(ii) has, immediately after that participation in that programme, begun to receive income-based jobseeker’s allowance as a result of an election under regulation 4(3B) of the Claims and Payments Regulations by the members of the couple or polygamous marriage,

the claimant shall be treated as having been in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance for the same period as his partner had been or had been treated, for the purposes of this Schedule, as having been;]

(f) where–

(i) the claimant was a member of a family of a person (not being a former partner) entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance and at least one other member of that family was a child or young person; and

(ii) the claimant becomes a member of another family which includes that child or young person; and

(iii) the claimant made his claim for a jobseeker’s allowance within 12 weeks [F13 or, as the case may be, 52 weeks,] of the date on which the person entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance mentioned in head(i) above ceased to be so entitled,

the claimant shall be treated as being in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance for the same period as that person had been or had been treated, for the purposes of this Schedule, as having been.

(2) Where a claimant, with the care of a child, has ceased to be in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance in consequence of the payment of child support maintenance under the Child Support Act 1991 F14 and immediately before ceasing to be so in receipt an amount determined in accordance with paragraph 6(1)(a)(i) or paragraph 7(l)(a)(i) was applicable to him, then—

(a) if the child support maintenance [F15 calculation] concerned is terminated or replaced on [F16 suppression] by a lower [F15 calculation] in consequence of the coming into force on or after 18th April 1995 of regulations made under the Child Support Act 1991; or

(b) where the child support maintenance [F15 calculation] concerned is an [F17 interim maintenance decision or default maintenance decision] and, in circumstances other than those referred to in head (a), it is terminated or replaced after termination by another [F17 interim maintenance decision or default maintenance decision] or by a maintenance [F15 calculation] made in accordance with Part I of Schedule 1 to the Child Support Act 1991, in either case of a lower amount than the [F15 calculation] concerned,

sub-paragraph (1)(a)(ii) shall apply to him as if for the words “any period of 12 weeks or less" there were substituted the words “any period of 26 weeks or less”.

[F18 (2A) Where a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance is payable to one member of a joint-claim couple in accordance with section 3B, both members of the couple shall be treated as receiving, or having received, a jobseeker’s allowance for the purpose of this paragraph.

(2B) Where both joint-claimants claiming a jobseeker’s allowance in respect of themselves have not been in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance for a period before they became a joint-claim couple, sub-paragraph (1) shall have effect in respect of that couple in relation to the period which is most favourable to the couple for the purposes of this Schedule.]

[F19 (3) For the purposes of this Schedule, where a claimant has ceased to be entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance because he or his partner [F20 or, where a claimant is a member of a joint-claim couple, the other member of that couple] is participating in arrangements for training made under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973 or attending a course at an employment rehabilitation centre established under that section, he shall be treated as if he had been in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance for the period during which he or his partner [F20 or, where a claimant is a member of a joint-claim couple, the other member of that couple] was participating in such a course.]

[F21 (3A) For the purposes of this Schedule, a claimant who has ceased to be entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance because—

(a) that claimant or his partner [F22 or, where a claimant is a member of a joint-claim couple, the other member of that couple] was participating in an employment programme specified in regulation 75(1)(a)(ii) [F23 in the Intensive Activity Period specified in regulation 75(1)(a)(iv) or in the Intensive Activity Period for 50 plus] [F24 or in an employment zone programme], and

(b) in consequence of such participation the claimant or his partner [F22 or, where a claimant is a member of a joint-claim couple, the other member of that couple] was engaged in renumerative work or failed to satisfy the condition specified either in section 2(1)(c)[F25 , 3(1)(a) or 3A (1)(a)],

shall be treated as if he had been in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance for the period during which he or his partner [F22 or, where a claimant is a member of a joint-claim couple, the other member of that couple] was participating in that programme [F26 or activity].]

(4) Where, for the purposes of sub-paragraphs [F27 (1), (3) and (3A)], a person is treated as being in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance, for a certain period, he shall[F28 , subject to sub-paragraph (4A),] be treated as being entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance for the same period.

(4A) [F29 Where the appropriate amount of a loan exceeds the amount specified in paragraph 10(4), sub-paragraph (4) shall not apply except–

(a) or the purposes of paragraph 6(1) or 7(1); or

(b) where a person has ceased to be in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance for a period of [F30 104 weeks] or less because he or his partner is a welfare to work beneficiary.]

(5) For the purposes of this Schedule, sub-paragraph (6) applies where a person is not entitled to an income-based jobseeker’s allowance by reason only that he has—

(a) capital exceeding [F31 £16,000]; or

(b) income exceeding the applicable amount which applies in his case; or

[F32 (bb) a personal rate of contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance that is equal to, or exceeds, the applicable amount in his case; or]

(c) both capital exceeding [F33 £16,000] and income exceeding the applicable amount which applies in his case.

(6) A person to whom sub-paragraph (5) applies shall be treated as entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance throughout any period of not more than 39 weeks which comprises only days—

(a) on which he is entitled to a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance, statutory sick pay or incapacity benefit; or

(b) on which he is, although not entitled to any of the benefits mentioned in head (a) above, entitled to be credited with earnings equal to the lower earnings limit for the time being in force in accordance with [F34 regulation 8A or 8B of the Social Security (Credits) Regulations 1975].

(7) Subject to sub-paragraph (8), a person to whom sub-paragraph (5) applies and who is either a person to whom regulation 13(4) applies (persons with caring responsibilities) or a lone parent shall, for the purposes of this Schedule, be treated as entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance throughout any period of not more than 39 weeks following the refusal of a claim for a jobseeker’s allowance made by or on behalf of that person.

(8) Sub-paragraph (7) shall not apply in relation to a person mentioned in that sub-paragraph who, during the period referred to in that sub-paragraph—

(a) is engaged in, or is treated as engaged in, remunerative work or whose partner is engaged in, or is treated as engaged in, remunerative work;

(b) is treated as not available for employment by virtue of regulation 15(a) (circumstances in which students are not treated as available for employment);

(c) is temporarily absent from Great Britain, other than in the circumstances specified in regulation 50 (temporary absence from Great Britain).

(9) In a case where–

(a) sub-paragraphs (6) and (7) apply solely by virtue of sub-paragraph (5)(b), and

(b) the claimant’s income includes payments under a policy taken out to insure against the risk that the policy holder is unable to meet any loan or payment which qualifies under paragraphs 14 to 16,

sub-paragraphs (6) and (7) shall have effect as if for the words “throughout any period of not more than 39 weeks" there are substituted the words “throughout any period that payments are made in accordance with the terms of the policy”.

(10) This sub-paragraph applies–

(a) to a person who claims a jobseeker’s allowance, or in respect of whom a jobseeker’s allowance is claimed, and who—

(i) received payments under a policy of insurance taken out to insure against loss of employment, and those payments are exhausted; and

(ii) had a previous award of a jobseeker’s allowance where the applicable amount included an amount by way of housing costs; and

(b) where the period in respect of which the previous award of a jobseeker’s allowance was payable ended not more than 26 weeks before the date the claim was made.

(11) Where sub-paragraph (10) applies, in determining–

(a) for the purposes of paragraph 6(1) whether a person has been entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance for a continuous period of 26 weeks or more; or

(b) for the purposes of paragraph 7(1) whether a claimant has been entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance for a continuous period of 39 weeks or more,

any week falling between the date of the termination of the previous award and the date of the new claim shall be ignored.

[F35 (12) Where the claimant’s partner to whom this paragraph applies is a welfare to work beneficiary, sub-paragraphs (1)(a)(ii), [F36 (1)(c)(iv),] (1)(d) and (1)(f)(iii) shall apply to him as if for the words “twelve weeks" there were substituted the words “[F37 104 weeks]".]

[F38 (13) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(a)(ii), (1)(c)(iv), (1)(d) and (1)(f)(iii), the relevant period shall be—

(a) 52 weeks in the case of a person to whom sub-paragraph (14) applies;

(b) subject to sub-paragraph (12), 12 weeks in any other case.

(14) This sub-paragraph applies, subject to sub-paragraph (15), in the case of a person who, on or after 9th April 2001, has ceased to be entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance because he or his partner or, where that person is a member of a joint-claim couple, the other member of that couple—

(a) has commenced employment as an employed earner or as a self-employed earner or has increased the hours in which he is engaged in such employment;

(b) is taking active steps to establish himself in employment as an employed earner or as a self-employed earner under any scheme for assisting persons to become so employed which is mentioned in regulation 19(1)(r)(i) to (iii); or

(c) is participating in—

(i) a New Deal option;

(ii) an employment zone programme;

(iii) the self-employment route, [F39 or

(iv) the Intensive Activity Period specified in regulation 75(1)(a)(iv) or the Intensive Activity Period for 50 plus,]

and, as a consequence, he or his partner was engaged in remunerative work or failed to satisfy the conditions specified in section 2(1)(c) or 3(1)(a) or the joint-claim couple of which he was a member failed to satisfy the condition in section 3A(1)(a).

(15) Sub-paragraph (14) shall only apply to the extent that immediately before the day on which the person ceased to be entitled to an income-based jobseeker’s allowance or the joint-claim couple of which he was a member ceased to be entitled to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance, his housing costs were being met in accordance with paragraph 6(1)(a)[F40 , 6(1)(b)] or 7(1)(a) or would have been so met but for any non-dependant deduction under paragraph 17.]

[F41 (16) For the purpose of determining whether the linking rules set out in this paragraph apply in a case where a claimant’s former partner was entitled to state pension credit, any reference to income-based jobseeker’s allowance in this Schedule shall be taken to include also a reference to state pension credit.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(1) substituted (19.3.2001) by The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Joint Claims) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1978), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 54(8)(a)

F2 Word in Sch. 2 para. 13(1) substituted (7.10.1996) by The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1516), reg. 1(1), Sch. Pt. 2

F3 Word in Sch. 2 para. 13(1)(a)(i) substituted (18.10.1999) by The Social Security Act 1998 (Commencement No. 11, and Savings and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/2860), art. 3(1), Sch. 12 para. 11

F4 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(1)(a)(ii) inserted (9.4.2001) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/488), regs. 1(1), 12(b)(i)(aa)

F5 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(1)(a)(ii) omitted (7.10.1996) by virtue of The Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support (General) (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1517), regs. 1, 29(4)

F6 Sch. 2 para. 13(1)(a)(ii), (aa)-(cc) inserted (7.10.1996) by The Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support (General) (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1517), regs. 1, 29(4)

F7 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(1)(b) substituted (18.10.1999) by The Social Security Act 1998 (Commencement No. 11, and Savings and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/2860), art. 3(1), Sch. 12 para. 10

F8 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(1)(c)(iv) inserted (9.4.2001) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/488), regs. 1(1), 12(b)(i)(bb)

F9 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(1)(d) inserted (9.4.2001) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/488), regs. 1(1), 12(b)(i)(cc)

F10 Sch. 2 para. 13(1)(dd) inserted (19.3.2001) by The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Joint Claims) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1978), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 54(8)(b)

F11 Sch. 2 para. 13(1)(ee) inserted (5.1.1998) by The Social Security Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/2863), regs. 1(1), 13(3)(a)

F12 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(1)(ee)(i) inserted (9.4.2001) by The Social Security Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/1029), regs. 1(1), 11(b)(i)

F13 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(1)(f)(iii) inserted (9.4.2001) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/488), regs. 1(1), 12(b)(i)(dd)

F14 1991 c.48.

F15 Word in Sch. 2 para. 13(2) substituted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by The Child Support (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/158), regs. 1(3), 7(3)(a) (with reg. 10); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3(1), Sch.

F16 Word in Sch. 2 para. 13(2)(a) substituted (18.10.1999) by The Social Security Act 1998 (Commencement No. 11, and Savings and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/2860), art. 3(1), Sch. 12 para. 5

F17 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(2)(b) substituted (3.3.2003 for specified purposes) by The Child Support (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/158), regs. 1(3), 7(3)(b) (with reg. 10); S.I. 2003/192, art. 3(1), Sch.

F18 Sch. 2 para. 13(2A)(2B) inserted (19.3.2001) by The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Joint Claims) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1978), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 54(8)(c)

F19 Sch. 2 para. 13(3) substituted (7.4.1997) by The Social Security and Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/827), regs. 1(1), 4(2)

F20 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(3) inserted (19.3.2001) by The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Joint Claims) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1978), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 54(8)(d)

F21 Sch. 2 para. 13(3A) inserted (5.1.1998) by The Social Security Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/2863), regs. 1(1), 13(3)(b)

F22 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(3A) inserted (19.3.2001) by The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Joint Claims) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1978), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 54(8)(e)(i)

F23 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(3A)(a) inserted (9.4.2001) by The Social Security Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/1029), regs. 1(1), 11(b)(ii)(aa)

F24 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(3A)(a) inserted (3.4.2000) by The Social Security Amendment (Employment Zones) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/724), regs. 1(1), 4(4)(d)

F25 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(3A)(b) substituted (19.3.2001) by The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Joint Claims) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1978), reg. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 54(8)(e)(ii)

F26 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(3A) added (9.4.2001) by The Social Security Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/1029), regs. 1(1), 11(b)(ii)(bb)

F27 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(4) substituted (5.1.1998) by The Social Security Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/2863), regs. 1(1), 13(3)(c)

F28 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(4) inserted (2.8.1999) by The Income Support (General) and Jobseeker’s Allowance Amendment Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1921), regs. 1, 2(2)(a)

F29 Sch. 2 para. 13(4A) inserted (2.8.1999) by The Income Support (General) and Jobseeker’s Allowance Amendment Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1921), regs. 1, 2(2)(b)

F30 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(4A)(b) substituted (9.10.2006) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2378), regs. 1(7), 13(10)(b)

F31 Word in Sch. 2 para. 13(5)(a) substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2465), regs. 1(6)(b), 3(7)

F32 Sch. 2 para. 13(5)(bb) inserted (28.10.1996) by The Social Security and Child Support (Jobseeker’s Allowance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/2538), regs. 1, 2(12)(b)

F33 Word in Sch. 2 para. 13(5)(c) substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2465), regs. 1(6)(b), 3(7)

F34 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(6)(b) substituted (5.4.1999) by The Social Security Benefits (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/714), reg. 2(2)(a)

F35 Sch. 2 para. 13(12) added (5.10.1998) by The Social Security (Welfare to Work) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/2231), regs. 1, 14(4)

F36 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(12) inserted (9.4.2001) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/488), regs. 1(1), 12(b)(ii)

F37 Words in Sch. 2 para. 13(12) substituted (9.10.2006) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2378), regs. 1(7), 13(10)(b)

F38 Sch. 2 para. 13(13)(14)(15) added (9.4.2001) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/488), regs. 1(1), 12(b)(iii)

F39 Sch. 2 para. 13(14)(c)(iv) and word added (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/1029), regs. 1(2), 11(b)(iii)

F40 Word in Sch. 2 para. 13(15) inserted (8.4.2002) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/841), regs. 1(1), 6

F41 Sch. 2 para. 13(16) added (6.10.2003) by The State Pension Credit (Consequential, Transitional and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/3019), regs. 1(2)(b), 30(b)