Search Legislation

The Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

More Resources

Changes to legislation:

The Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, Part III is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 24 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to Part III:

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Order associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Order (including any effects on those provisions):

Part IIIN.I.Back to Work Schemes

The back to work bonusN.I.

28.[F1(1) Regulations may make provision for the payment, in prescribed circumstances, of sums to or in respect of persons who are or have been entitled to a jobseeker's allowance or to income support.

(2) A sum payable under the regulations shall be known as “a back to work bonus”.

(3) [F2Subject to section 677 of the Income tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (which provides for a back to work bonus not to be taxable)], a back to work bonus shall be treated for all purposes as payable by way of a jobseeker's allowance or (as the case may be) income support.

(4) The regulations may, in particular, provide for—

(a)a back to work bonus to be payable only on the occurrence of a prescribed event;

(b)a bonus not to be payable unless a claim is made before the end of the prescribed period;

(c)the amount of a bonus (subject to any maximum prescribed by virtue of sub-paragraph (g)) to be determined in accordance with the regulations;

(d)enabling amounts to be calculated by reference to periods of entitlement to a jobseeker's allowance and periods of entitlement to income support;

(e)treating a bonus as payable wholly by way of income support or wholly by way of a jobseeker's allowance, in a case where amounts have been calculated in accordance with provision made by virtue of sub-paragraph (d);

(f)keeping persons who may be entitled to a bonus informed of the amounts calculated in accordance with any provision of the regulations made by virtue of sub-paragraph (c);

(g)the amount of a bonus not to exceed a prescribed maximum;

(h)a bonus not to be payable if the amount of the bonus which would otherwise be payable is less than the prescribed minimum;

(i)prescribed periods to be disregarded for prescribed purposes;

(j)a bonus which has been paid to a person to be treated, in prescribed circumstances and for prescribed purposes, as income or capital of his or of any other member of his family;

(k)treating the whole or a prescribed part of an amount which has accrued towards a person's bonus—

(i)as not having accrued towards his bonus; but

(ii)as having accrued towards the bonus of another person;

(l)the whole or a prescribed part of a back to work bonus to be payable, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, to such person, other than the person who is or had been entitled to a jobseeker's allowance or to income support, as may be determined in accordance with the regulations.]

F1Art. 28 repealed (27.9.2017 for specified purposes, 15.11.2017 and 13.12.2017 for specified purposes, 17.1.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 16.5.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 5.9.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 1.2.2019 for specified purposes) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), art. 2(2), Sch. 12 Pt. 1; S.R. 2017/190, art. 6, Sch. 2 (with arts. 7, 8, 10-25, Sch. 3); S.R. 2017/216, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/1, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/97, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/138, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2019/7, art. 2(5)-(7) (with art. 2(8)-(12))

Employment of long-term unemployed: deductions by employersN.I.

29.—(1) An employee is a “qualifying employee” in relation to his employer for the purposes of this Article if, immediately before beginning his employment with that employer, he had been entitled to a jobseeker's allowance for a continuous period of not less than two years.

(2) An employee is also a “qualifying employee” in relation to his employer for the purposes of this Article if—

(a)immediately before beginning his employment with that employer, he had been unemployed for a continuous period of not less than two years;

(b)he is under pensionable age; and

(c)he falls within a prescribed description of person.

(3) Regulations may make provision for any employer who employs a person who is a qualifying employee in relation to him, to make deductions from the employer's contributions payments in accordance with the regulations and in prescribed circumstances.

(4) Those regulations may, in particular, make provision as to the period for which deductions may be made by an employer.

(5) Regulations may provide, in relation to cases where an employer is a qualifying employee in relation to more than one employer at the same time, for the right to make deductions to be confined to one employer—

(a)determined in accordance with the regulations; and

(b)certified by the[F3 Commissioners of Inland Revenue] Department, in accordance with the regulations, to be the employer entitled to make those deductions.

(6) Regulations may—

(a)provide that, in prescribed circumstances, a person who would not otherwise satisfy the condition in paragraph (1) is to be treated as satisfying it;

(b)provide that, in prescribed circumstances, a person who would not otherwise satisfy the condition in paragraph (2)(a) is to be treated as satisfying it;

(c)prescribe circumstances in which, for prescribed purposes, two or more employers are to be treated as one;

(d)make provision for the payment, in prescribed circumstances, by the[F3 Commissioners of Inland Revenue], of sums to employers who are unable to make the whole or part of any deductions which they are entitled to make;

(e)require persons to maintain such records in connection with deductions made by them as may be prescribed;

(f)require persons who have made deductions to furnish to the[F3 Commissioners of Inland Revenue] such documents and information, at such time, as may be prescribed.

(7) Where, in accordance with any provision of regulations made under this Article, an amount has been deducted from an employer's contributions payments, the amount so deducted shall (except in such cases as may be prescribed) be treated for the purposes of any provision made by or under any enactment in relation to primary or secondary Class 1 contributions as having been—

(a)paid (on such date as may be determined in accordance with the regulations); and

(b)received by the[F3 Commissioners of Inland Revenue],

towards discharging the employer's liability in respect of such contributions.

(8) In this Article—

  • “contributions payments”, in relation to an employer, means the aggregate of the payments which he is required to make by way of primary or secondary Class 1 contributions;

  • “deductions” means deductions made in accordance with regulations under paragraph (3);F3. . .

  • “employee” and “employer” have such meaning as may be prescribed.

  • [F3“prescribed” means specified in or determined in accordance with regulations;and

  • “regulations” means regulations made by the Treasury]

F3SI 1999/671

F4Expedited claims for housing benefitN.I.

30.—(1) This Article provides for the making of regulations to enable priority to be given to certain persons with a view to claims for housing benefit made by or in respect of persons who cease to be entitled to a jobseekers's allowance or income support being dealt with quickly.

(2) In section 61 of the Administration Act (adjudication of claims for housing benefit), insert after subsection (2)—

(2A) Regulations may make provision requiring the Housing Executive, where claims for housing benefit are made to it by, or in respect of, persons how have been entitled to a jobseeker's allowance or to income support to give priority, in prescribed circumstances, to those claims over other claims for that benefit. .

F4prosp. in pt. rep. by 1998 NI 10

Pilot schemesN.I.

31.—(1) Any regulations to which this paragraph applies may be made so as to have effect for a specified period not exceeding [F536 months].

(2) Any regulations which, by virtue of paragraph (1), are to have effect for a limited period are referred to in this Article as “a pilot scheme”.

(3) A pilot scheme may provide that its provisions are to apply only in relation to—

(a)one or more specified areas or localities;

(b)one or more specified classes of person;

(c)persons selected—

(i)by reference to prescribed criteria; or

(ii)on a sampling basis.

(4) A pilot scheme may make consequential or transitional provision with respect to the cessation of the scheme on the expiry of the specified period.

(5) A pilot scheme ( “the previous scheme”) may be replaced by a further pilot scheme making the same, or similar, provision (apart from the specified period) to that made by the previous scheme.

(6) Subject to paragraph (8), paragraph (1) applies to—

(a)regulations made under this Order, other than—

(i)regulations made under Article 6(2) or (5) which have the effect of reducing any age-related amount or applicable amount; or

(ii)regulations made under Article 29;

(b)regulations made under the Administration Act, so far as they relate to a jobseekers's allowance;

(c)regulations made under Part VII of the Benefits Act (income-related benefits), other than any mentioned in paragraph (7); and

(d)regulations made under the Administration Act, so far as they relate to income-related benefits payable under Part VII of the Benefits Act.

(7) The regulations referred to in paragraph (6)(c) are—

Sub‐paras. (a) and (b) rep. by 2002 c. 21

(c)regulations under section 129(4) of that Act which have the effect of reducing the appropriate maximum housing benefit; and

(d)regulations reducing any of the sums prescribed under section 131(1) of that Act.

(8) Paragraph (1) applies only if the regulations are made with a view to [F6testing the extent to which the provision made by the regulations is likely to promote—

(a)people remaining in work, or

(b)people obtaining or being able to obtain work (or more work or better-paid work).]

F5Words in art. 31(1) substituted (13.8.2010) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 (c. 13), ss. 22(1)(a), 36(1)(g)

F6Words in art. 31(8) substituted (27.9.2017 for specified purposes and subsequently on the days on which and for the purposes for which "the amending provisions" are brought into force by secondary legislation) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), arts. 2(2), 55(5); S.R. 2017/190, art. 9 (with arts. 10-25)

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.