The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Work Experience) (Amendment) Regulations 2011

Amendments to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

2.—(1) The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996(1) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 1(3)(2) (citation, commencement and interpretation) after the definition of “welfare to work beneficiary” insert the following definition—

““Work Experience” means the employment programme specified in regulation 75(1)(a)(vi);”.

(3) In regulation 19(1)(q) (circumstances in which a person is to be treated as actively seeking employment) after “programme” insert “(other than Work Experience)”.

(4) At the end of regulation 53(3) (persons treated as not engaged in remunerative work) insert—

“(k) he is engaged in the programme known as Work Experience.”.

(5) In regulation 73 (good cause for the purposes of section 19(5)(b))—

(a) in paragraph (2A)(a)(4), for “or (iv) or (v)” substitute “, (iv), (v) or (vi)”;

(b) after paragraph (2B)(5) insert—

“(2C) Without prejudice to any other circumstances in which a person may be regarded as having good cause for any act or omission for the purposes of section 19(5)(b) or section 20A(2)(b), a person is to be regarded as having good cause for failing to attend or giving up Work Experience provided that the person—

(a) attends the first day of Work Experience,

(b) gives up not later than one week after the date on which the person begins Work Experience, and

(c) does not lose the Work Experience place through misconduct.”.

(6) In regulation 75 (interpretation)—

(a) at the end of paragraph (i)(a)(iv) (the Intensive Activity Period) delete “and”;

(b) in paragraph (1)(a)(v) (the Flexible New Deal), in subparagraph (cc) after “suitable employment;” insert “and”;

(c) at the end of paragraph (1)(a)(v) insert—

“(vi) Work Experience, being a programme consisting of work experience, job search skills and job skills, provided in pursuance of arrangements made by or on behalf of the Secretary of State under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973, of between two and eight weeks’ duration for which only persons who are aged 18 years or over prior to entry are eligible.”.

(1)

S.I. 1996/207.

(2)

Relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1998/2231; there are other amending instruments, but none is relevant.

(3)

Relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1999/2165, 3156, 2000/1978, 2910, 2004/963, 3168, 2005/2060, 2929, 2006/2378, 2009/3228 and 2010/641.

(4)

Paragraph (2A) was inserted by S.I. 1997/2863. Relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2000/1978, 2001/1029 and 2009/480.

(5)

Inserted by S.I. 1998/1274.