The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Jobseeking period

47.—(1) For the purposes of the Order, but subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the “jobseeking period” means any period throughout which the claimant satisfies or is treated as satisfying the conditions specified in Article 3(2)(a) to (c) and (e) to (i) of the Order (conditions of entitlement to a jobseeker’s allowance).

(2) Any period in which—

(a) a claimant does not satisfy any of the requirements in Article 3(2)(a) to (c) of the Order, and

(b) a jobseeker’s allowance is payable to him in accordance with Part IX (hardship),

shall, for the purposes of paragraph (1), be treated as a period in which the claimant satisfies the conditions specified in Article 3(2)(a) to (c) of the Order.

(3) The following periods shall not be, or be part of, a jobseeking period—

(a) any period in respect of which no claim for a jobseeker’s allowance has been made or treated as made;

(b) such period as falls before the day on which a claim for a jobseeker’s allowance is made or treated as made or, where good cause is shown for a claim outside the prescribed time for claiming, before the earliest date in respect of which good cause is shown;

(c) where a claim for a jobseeker’s allowance has been made or treated as made but no entitlement to benefit arises in respect of a period before the date of claim by virtue of section 1(2) of the Administration Act (limits for backdating entitlement), that period;

(d) where—

(i) a claimant satisfies the conditions specified in Article 3(2)(a) to (c) and (e) to (i), and

(ii) entitlement to a jobseeker’s allowance ceases in accordance with regulation 25 (entitlement ceasing on a failure to comply),

the period beginning with and including the date in respect of which, in accordance with regulation 26 (time at which entitlement is to cease), entitlement ceases and ending with the day before the date in respect of which the claimant again becomes entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance, or

(e) any week in which the claimant is not entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance in accordance with Article 16 of the Order (trade disputes).

(4) For the purposes of Article 7 of the Order (duration of a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance) any day—

(a) which falls within a jobseeking period;

(b) on which the claimant satisfies the conditions specified in Article 4 of the Order (the contribution-based conditions) other than the conditions specified in paragraph (1)(c) and (d) of that Article, and

(c) on which the claimant is not entitled to a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance by virtue of Article 21 of the Order (circumstances in which a jobseeker’s allowance is not payable) or any provision of these Regulations,

shall be treated as if it was a day in respect of which he was entitled to a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance.