The Social Security (Contribution Conditions for Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

Amendment of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations

2.  After regulation 45A of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(1) (the contribution-based conditions and relevant earnings) insert—

“Relaxation of the first set of conditions

45B.— (1) A claimant who also satisfies the condition in paragraph (2) is to be taken to satisfy the first set of conditions(2) if the claimant has—

(a) paid Class 1 contributions before the relevant benefit week in respect of any one tax year; and

(b) earnings at the lower earnings limit in that tax year on which primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid which in total, and disregarding any earnings which exceed the lower earnings limit for that year, are not less than that limit multiplied by 26.

(2) The condition referred to in paragraph (1) is that the claimant, in respect of any week during the last complete tax year preceding the relevant benefit year, is entitled to be credited with earnings in accordance with regulation 9E of the Social Security (Credits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975(3) (credits for certain spouses and civil partners of members of Her Majesty’s forces).”.

(1)

S.R. 1996 No. 198; regulation 45A was inserted by regulation 2 of S.R. 2010 No. 346

(2)

“The first set of conditions” is defined for the purpose of Article 4(3B) of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (the enabling power) in Article 4(3C) of that Order, which was also inserted by section 11(5) of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2010

(3)

S.R. 1975 No. 113; regulation 9E was inserted by regulation 2(3) of S.R. 2010 No. 109