Amendment of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations2

1

The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 19963 shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (5).

2

In regulation 14(1)4 (circumstances in which a person is to be treated as available)—

a

in sub-paragraph (m) after “a couple” there shall be inserted “other than a joint-claim couple”;

b

after sub-paragraph (m) there shall be inserted the following sub-paragraph—

mm

if he is a member of a joint-claim couple and he and his partner are both absent from Northern Ireland and a premium referred to in paragraph 20E, 20F, 20G or 20I of Schedule 15 (applicable amounts) is applicable in respect of his partner, for a maximum of 4 weeks;

c

after regulation 14(1)(n) there shall be inserted the following sub-paragraph—

o

if he is temporarily absent from Northern Ireland in the circumstances prescribed in regulation 50(6B)(a) or (c)6, for the period of any such temporary absence;

3

In regulation 19(1) (circumstances in which a person is to be treated as actively seeking employment)—

a

in sub-paragraph (m) after “a couple” there shall be inserted “other than a joint-claim couple”;

b

after sub-paragraph (m) there shall be inserted the following sub-paragraph—

mm

if he is a member of a joint-claim couple, in any week during which he and his partner are both absent from Northern Ireland for not less than 3 days and in which a premium referred to in paragraph 20E, 20F, 20G or 20I of Schedule 1 (applicable amounts) is applicable in respect of his partner, for a maximum of 4 weeks;

c

after regulation 19(1)(r) there shall be inserted the following sub-paragraph—

s

if he is temporarily absent from Northern Ireland in the circumstances prescribed in regulation 50(6B)(a) or (c), for the period of any such temporary absence.

4

In regulation 64(2) (availability for employment), after “(6)(c) or (d)” there shall be inserted “or 22A(2)(b), (c), (f) or (g)7” and after “Article 21(6)(a) or (b)” there shall be inserted “or 22A(2)(d) or (e)”.

5

In regulation 65(5) (active seeking) after “(6)(c) or (d)” there shall be inserted “ or 22A(2)(b), (c), (f) or (g)” and after “Article 21(6)(a) or (b)” there shall be inserted “or 22A(2)(d) or (e)”.