The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Transitional Provisions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Transition from unemployment benefit to a jobseeker’s allowance

5.—(1) Paragraph (2) shall apply in the case of a person to whom unemployment benefit was payable in respect of the relevant day.

(2) In a case where, in accordance with a notice issued to him under regulation 19 of, and paragraph 1 of Schedule 5 to, the Claims and Payments Regulations, a person claims unemployment benefit—

(a) on or after 7th October 1996 but before 13th October 1996 and in consequence of that claim unemployment benefit is awarded, that award shall have effect as—

(i) an award of unemployment benefit until the end of the benefit week that includes the relevant day, and

(ii) thereafter as an award of a jobseeker’s allowance until such date as the claimant fails to satisfy, or in respect of which he ceases to be treated as satisfying, any condition of entitlement to a jobseeker’s allowance that applies in his case;

(b) on a day falling on or after 14th October 1996 but before 20th October 1996 and in consequence of that claim unemployment benefit is awarded, that award shall have effect as—

(i) an award of unemployment benefit for the first benefit week falling within the period of the claim, and

(ii) thereafter as an award of a jobseeker’s allowance until such date as the claimant fails to satisfy, or in respect of which he ceases to be treated as satisfying, any condition of entitlement to a jobseeker’s allowance which applies in his case.

(3) An award of unemployment benefit—

(a) made in accordance with regulation 17(4)(b) of the Claims and Payments Regulations, or

(b) which is made on or after 7th October 1996 for a period commencing before 7th October 1996,

and which extends beyond the benefit week which includes the relevant day shall terminate at the end of that benefit week.

(4) In the case of a person to whom paragraph (2) or (3) applies, his entitlement to unemployment benefit in the benefit week which includes the relevant day shall be determined as if the provisions of the Benefits Act, the Administration Act and the Regulations made under those Acts relating to unemployment benefit had continued in force in his case until the end of that benefit week and as if the Order did not apply to him in that benefit week.

(5) A person who is treated as making a claim for a jobseeker’s allowance under this regulation shall, if he satisfies the conditions of entitlement to unemployment benefit in operation on 6th October 1996, but subject to the provisions of these Regulations, be treated as satisfying the requirements of Articles 3 and 4 of the Order (entitlement to a jobseeker’s allowance and the contribution-based conditions).