The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Supervised Jobsearch Pilot Scheme) Regulations 2014

PART 2 SELECTION FOR AND PARTICIPATION IN THE SUPERVISED JOBSEARCH PILOT SCHEME

The Supervised Jobsearch Pilot Scheme

3.—(1) The Supervised Jobsearch Pilot Scheme is prescribed for the purposes of section 17A(1) (schemes for assisting persons to obtain employment: “work for your benefit” schemes etc) of the Jobseekers Act 1995.

(2) The Supervised Jobsearch Pilot Scheme (“the Scheme”) is a scheme—

(a) that is designed to provide support and assistance to a claimant in their search to find employment, in a supervised environment, for up to 35 hours per week over a period of up to 13 weeks; and

(b) which involves an initial interview with the Scheme provider to discuss what the claimant is required to do by way of participation in the Scheme and may also involve training or other activity to help improve a claimant’s job search skills, help preparing for job interviews and assistance with job applications and preparing a curriculum vitae.

Selection for participation in the Scheme

4.  The Secretary of State may select a claimant (“C”) for participation in the Scheme either—

(a) in accordance with regulation 5, where C has never been selected for participation in the Work Programme within the meaning of regulation 3(8) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013(1); or

(b) in accordance with regulation 6, in all other cases.

5.  Where the Secretary of State is satisfied that the claimant (“C”) is not taking sufficiently effective steps to secure employment (for example, because C is failing to secure job interviews), the Secretary of State may select C on a sampling basis, for participation in the Scheme if the conditions in regulation 6(2) to (4) are met.

6.—(1) The Secretary of State may select a claimant (“C”) on a sampling basis for participation in the Scheme if the following conditions are met.

(2) The first condition is that C has reached the age of 18.

(3) The second condition is that C is registered at a Jobcentre Plus office within a Jobcentre Plus district of the Department for Work and Pensions, by whatever name it is from time to time known, which is identified by reference to its name at the date these Regulations come into force as listed below—

(a) East Anglia;

(b) Black Country;

(c) Mercia;

(d) Surrey & Sussex;

(e) West Yorkshire.

(4) The third condition is that C is required to meet the jobseeking conditions(2).

(5) The fourth condition is that C is not under a current requirement to participate in the Work Programme under regulation 5 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013(3).

Requirement to participate in the Scheme and initial notification

7.—(1) Subject to regulation 9, a claimant (“C”) selected in accordance with regulation 4 is required to participate in the Scheme where the Secretary of State gives C a notice in writing complying with paragraph (2).

(2) The notice must specify—

(a) that C is required to participate in the Scheme;

(b) that C is required to attend an initial interview with the Scheme provider;

(c) a description of the Scheme in which C is required to participate;

(d) the day on which C is required to start participation in the Scheme;

(e) the day on which the requirement for C to participate in the Scheme will end; and

(f) the consequences of failing to attend the interview with the Scheme provider or failing to participate in the Scheme.

(3) Any changes to the details mentioned in paragraph (2), must be notified by the Secretary of State to C in writing.

Subsequent notifications

8.—(1) The Scheme provider must hold an initial interview with a claimant (“C”) required to participate in the Scheme.

(2) At the initial interview the Scheme provider must discuss with C what C is required to do by way of participation in the Scheme.

(3) The Scheme provider must give C a notice in writing at C’s initial interview or within 4 working days of the interview, complying with paragraph (4).

(4) The notice must specify—

(a) what C is required to do by way of participation in the Scheme; and

(b) the consequences of C failing to participate in the Scheme.

(5) Any changes to the details mentioned in paragraph (4), must be notified by the Scheme provider to C in writing.

Circumstances in which requirement to participate in the Scheme is suspended or ceases to apply

9.—(1) The requirement for a claimant (“C”) to participate in the Scheme does not apply for any period during which C is not required to meet the jobseeking conditions.

(2) Where the Scheme provider fails to give a notice in writing in accordance with regulation 8, the requirement for C to participate in the Scheme is treated as not applying until such a notice is issued by the Scheme provider.

(3) A requirement to participate in the Scheme ceases to apply to C if—

(a) the Secretary of State gives C notice in writing that C is no longer required to participate in the Scheme; or

(b) C ceases to be entitled to jobseeker’s allowance.

(4) If the Secretary of State gives the claimant a notice in writing under paragraph (3)(a), the requirement to participate in the Scheme ceases to apply on the day specified in the notice.

Requirement to recommence participation in the Scheme

10.—(1) Where—

(a) the claimant’s (“C”) requirement to participate in the Scheme ceased to apply in accordance with regulation 9(3); and

(b) the requirement ceased before the date specified in the notice given to C in accordance with regulation 7(2)(e),

the Secretary of State may require C to recommence participation in the Scheme by giving C a new written notice complying with regulation 7(2).

(2) Where C is required to recommence participation in the Scheme, the Scheme provider must give a new notice to C in accordance with regulation 8.

(1)

S.I. 2013/276.

(2)

See section 17A(10) of the Act for the meaning of “jobseeking conditions”.

(3)

S.I. 2013/276.