The Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

PART 3 N.I. SANCTIONS

Interpretation N.I.

18.  For the purposes of this Part—

[F1 “current sanctionable failure” means a failure of the following kinds in relation to which the Department has not yet determined whether the amount of an award of benefit is to be reduced—

(a)

a sanctionable failure,

(b)

an ESA sanctionable failure, or

(c)

a UC sanctionable failure;]

“ESA sanctionable failure” means a failure by a claimant which is sanctionable under section 11J of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 M1 ;

“higher-level sanction” means reduction of a jobseeker's allowance in accordance with Article 8J of the Order;

“low-level sanction” means a reduction of a jobseeker's allowance in accordance with Article 8K of the Order for a sanctionable failure by the claimant to comply with—

(a)

a work-focused interview requirement under Article 8B(1) of the Order;

(b)

a work preparation requirement under Article 8C(1) of the Order;

(c)

a work search requirement under Article 8D(1)(b) of the Order (requirement to take action specified by the Department to obtain work); or

(d)

a requirement under Article 8G of the Order (connected requirements);

“medium-level sanction” means a reduction of a jobseeker's allowance in accordance with Article 8K of the Order for a sanctionable failure by the claimant to comply with—

(a)

a work search requirement under Article 8D(1)(a) of the Order (requirement to take all reasonable action to obtain paid work); or

(b)

a work availability requirement under Article 8E(1) of the Order (requirement to be available for work);

“pre-claim failure” means a sanctionable failure listed in Article 8J(3) of the Order;

“reduction period” means the number of days for which a reduction in the amount of an award of a jobseeker's allowance is to have effect;

“sanctionable failure” means a failure by a claimant which is sanctionable under Article 8J or 8K of the Order;

“total outstanding reduction period” means the total number of days for which no reduction has yet been applied for all of the claimant's higher-level sanctions, medium-level sanctions, low-level sanctions and reductions to which regulation 30 applies;

“UC sanctionable failure” means a failure by a claimant which is sanctionable under Article 31 or 32 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 18 inserted (coming into operation in accordance with reg. 1(7) of the amending Regulations) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/116), regs. 1(7), 10(4)

Marginal Citations

M1 2007 C. 2 (N.I.); section 11J was inserted by Article 63(2) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.1))

General principles for calculating reduction periods N.I.

19.—(1) Subject to [F2 paragraph (3)] , the reduction period is to be determined in relation to each sanctionable failure in accordance with regulations 20, 21 and 22.

(2) Reduction periods are to run consecutively.

(3) Where the reduction period calculated in relation to a sanctionable failure in accordance with regulation 20, 21 or 22 would result in the total outstanding reduction period exceeding 546 days, the number of days in the reduction period in relation to that failure is to be adjusted so that 546 days is not exceeded.

F3 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in reg. 19(1) substituted (1.11.2021) by The Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (S.R. 2021/288), regs. 1, 2(a)

F3 Reg. 19(4) omitted (1.11.2021) by virtue of The Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (S.R. 2021/288), regs. 1, 2(b)

Higher-level sanctions N.I.

20.— [F4 (1) Where the sanctionable failure is not a pre-claim failure, the reduction for a higher-level sanction in the circumstances described in the first column of the following table is the period set out in the second column.

Circumstances in which reduction period applies	Reduction period
Where there has been no previous relevant failure by the claimant	91 days
Where there have been one or more previous relevant failures by the claimant and the date of the most recent relevant failure is not within 365 days beginning with the date of the current sanctionable failure	91 days
Where there have been one or more previous relevant failures by the claimant and the date of the most recent previous relevant failure is within 365 days, but not within 14 days, beginning with the date of the current sanctionable failure and the reduction period applicable to the most recent previous relevant failure is—
(a) 91 days	182 days
(b) 182 days	[F5 182 days]
(c) F6 ...	F6 . . .
Where there have been one or more previous relevant failures by the claimant and the date of the most recent previous relevant failure is within 14 days beginning with the date of the current sanctionable failure and the reduction period applicable to the most recent previous relevant failure is—
(a) 91 days	91 days
(b) 182 days	182 days
(c) F7 ...	F7 . . . ]

(2) But where—

(a) the other sanctionable failure referred to in paragraph (1) was a pre-claim failure; or

(b) the UC sanctionable failure referred to in paragraph (1) was a pre-claim failure under regulation 100(4) of the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016,

it is to be disregarded in determining the reduction period in accordance with paragraph (1).

(3) Where the sanctionable failure for which a reduction period is to be determined is a pre-claim failure, the reduction period is the lesser of—

(a) the period which would be applicable to the claimant under paragraph (1) if it were not a pre-claim failure; or

(b) where the sanctionable failure relates to paid work that was due to last for a limited period, the period beginning with the day after the date of the sanctionable failure and ending with the last day of the limited period,

minus the number of days beginning with the day after the date of the sanctionable failure and ending with the day before the date of claim.

[F8 (4) In this regulation “relevant failure” means—

(a) a sanctionable failure giving rise to a higher-level sanction, or

(b) a UC sanctionable failure giving rise to a sanction under Article 31 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015.]

Textual Amendments

F4 Reg. 20(1) substituted (coming into operation in accordance with reg. 1(7) of the amending Regulations) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/116), regs. 1(7), 10(6)(a)

F5 Words in reg. 20(1) table substituted (27.11.2019) by The Jobseekers Allowance and Universal Credit (Higher-Level Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 (S.R. 2019/201), regs. 1, 4(a)(i) (with reg. 5)

F6 Words in reg. 20(1) table omitted (27.11.2019) by virtue of The Jobseekers Allowance and Universal Credit (Higher-Level Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 (S.R. 2019/201), regs. 1, 4(a)(ii) (with reg. 5)

F7 Words in reg. 20(1) table omitted (27.11.2019) by virtue of The Jobseekers Allowance and Universal Credit (Higher-Level Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 (S.R. 2019/201), regs. 1, 4(b) (with reg. 5)

F8 Reg. 20(4) inserted (coming into operation in accordance with reg. 1(7) of the amending Regulations) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/116), regs. 1(7), 10(6)(b)

Medium-level sanctions N.I.

[F9 21.— (1) The reduction for a medium-level sanction in the circumstances described in the first column of the following table is the period set out in the second column.

Circumstances in which reduction period applies	Reduction period
Where there has been no previous relevant failure by the claimant	28 days
Where there have been one or more previous relevant failures by the claimant and the date of the most recent previous relevant failure is not within 365 days beginning with the date of the current sanctionable failure	28 days
Where there have been one or more previous relevant failures by the claimant and the date of the most recent previous relevant failure is within 365 days, but not within 14 days, beginning with the date of the current sanctionable failure and the reduction period applicable to the most recent previous relevant failure is—
(a) 28 days	91 days
(b) 91 days	91 days
Where there have been one or more previous relevant failures by the claimant and the date of the most recent previous relevant failure is within 14 days beginning with the date of the current sanctionable failure and the reduction period applicable to the most recent previous relevant failure is—
(a) 28 days	28 days
(b) 91 days	91 days.

(2) In this regulation “relevant failure” means—

(a) a sanctionable failure giving rise to a medium-level sanction, or

(b) a UC sanctionable failure giving rise to a sanction under Article 32 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 to which regulation 100 of the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 applies.]

Textual Amendments

F9 Reg. 21 substituted (coming into operation in accordance with reg. 1(7) of the amending Regulations) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/116), regs. 1(7), 10(7)

Low-level sanction N.I.

22.—(1) The reduction period for a low-level sanction is the total of the number of days referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) The number of days beginning with the date of the sanctionable failure and ending with—

(a) the day before the day on which the claimant meets a compliance condition specified by the Department;

(b) the day before the day on which the claimant is no longer required to take a particular action specified as a work preparation requirement by the Department under Article 8C(1) of the Order; or

(c) the day on which the award of a jobseeker's allowance is terminated,

whichever is soonest.

[F10 (3) In the circumstances described in the first column of the following table, the number of days set out in the second column.

Circumstances applicable to claimant’s case	Number of days
Where there has been no previous relevant failure by the claimant	7 days
Where there have been one or more previous relevant failures by the claimant and the date of the most recent previous relevant failure is not within 365 days beginning with the date of the current sanctionable failure	7 days
Where there have been one or more previous relevant failures by the claimant and the date of the most recent previous relevant failure is within 365 days, but not within 14 days, beginning with the date of the current sanctionable failure and the reduction period applicable to the most recent previous relevant failure is—
(a) 7 days	14 days
(b) 14 days	28 days
(c) 28 days	28 days
Where there have been one or more previous relevant failures by the claimant and the date of the most recent previous relevant failure is within 14 days beginning with the date of the current sanctionable failure and the reduction period applicable to the most recent previous relevant failure is—
(a) 7 days	7 days
(b) 14 days	14 days
(c) 28 days	28 days.

(4) In this regulation “relevant failure” means—

(a) a sanctionable failure giving rise to low-level sanction,

(b) a UC sanctionable failure giving rise to a sanction under Article 32 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 to which regulation 102 of the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 applies, or

(c) an ESA sanctionable failure giving rise to a sanction under section 11J of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 to which regulation 52 of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 applies.]

Textual Amendments

F10 Reg. 22(3)(4) substituted for reg. 22(3) (coming into operation in accordance with reg. 1(7) of the amending Regulations) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/116), regs. 1(7), 10(8)

Start of the reduction N.I.

23.  A reduction period determined in relation to a sanctionable failure takes effect from—

(a) where the claimant has not been paid a jobseeker's allowance for the benefit week in which the sanctionable failure occurred, the first day of that benefit week;

(b) where the claimant has been paid a jobseeker's allowance for the benefit week referred to in paragraph (a), the first day of the first benefit week for which the claimant has not been paid a jobseeker's allowance; or

(c) where the amount of the award of the jobseeker's allowance for the benefit week referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) is already subject to a reduction because of a previous sanctionable failure, the first day of the first benefit week in respect of which the amount of the award is no longer subject to that reduction.

Reduction period to continue where award of jobseeker's allowance terminates N.I.

24.—(1) Where an award of a jobseeker's allowance terminates while there is an outstanding reduction period—

(a) the period continues to run as if a daily reduction were being applied; and

(b) if the claimant becomes entitled to a new award of a jobseeker's allowance before the period expires, that new award is subject to a reduction for the remainder of the total outstanding reduction period.

(2) Paragraph (3) applies where—

(a) an award of a jobseeker's allowance terminates before the Department determines that the amount of the award is to be reduced in accordance with Article 8J or 8K of the Order in relation to a sanctionable failure; and

(b) that determination is made after the claimant becomes entitled to a new award of a jobseeker's allowance.

(3) Where this paragraph applies—

(a) the reduction period in relation to the sanctionable failure referred to in paragraph (2) is to be treated as having taken effect on the day before the previous award terminated;

(b) that reduction period is treated as having continued to run as if a daily reduction were being applied; and

(c) if the new award referred to in paragraph (2)(b) begins before that reduction period expires, that new award is subject to a reduction for the remainder of the total outstanding reduction period.

Suspension of a reduction where a fraud sanction applies N.I.

25.—(1) A reduction in the amount of an award of a jobseeker's allowance in accordance with Article 8J or 8K of the Order is to be suspended for any period during which section 5B or 6 of the Social Security Fraud Act (Northern Ireland) 2001 M2 applies to the award.

(2) The reduction ceases to have effect on the day on which that period begins and has effect again on the day after that period ends.

Marginal Citations

M2 2001 c. 17 (N.I.); section 5B was inserted by section 19(1) of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 (c. 13 (N.I.)) and section 6 was amended by paragraph 33 of Schedule 2 to the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 (c. 14 (N.I.)), section 45(1) and paragraph 14(2) of Schedule 3 to the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2 (N.I.)) and paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2010

Termination of a reduction N.I.

26.—(1) A reduction in the amount of an award of a jobseeker's allowance in accordance with Article 8J or 8K of the Order is to be terminated where, since the date of the most recent sanctionable failure which gave rise to such a reduction, the claimant has been in paid work—

(a) for a period of at least 26 weeks; or

(b) for more than one period where the total of those periods amounts to at least 26 weeks.

(2) The termination of the reduction has effect—

(a) where the date on which paragraph (1) is satisfied falls within a period of entitlement to a jobseeker's allowance, from the beginning of the benefit week in which that date falls; or

(b) where that date falls outside a period of entitlement to a jobseeker's allowance, from the beginning of the first benefit week in relation to any subsequent award of a jobseeker's allowance.

(3) The claimant is in paid work for the purposes of paragraph (1) where their weekly earnings are at least equal to their expected number of hours per week calculated under regulation 9 multiplied by the national minimum wage which would apply for a person of the claimant's age under the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015 M3 .

Marginal Citations

M3 S.I. 2015/621; relevant amending Regulation is S.I. 2015/1724

Amount of reduction for each benefit week N.I.

27.  Where it has been determined that an award of a jobseeker's allowance is to be reduced in accordance with Article 8J or 8K of the Order, the amount of the reduction for each benefit week in respect of which a reduction has effect is to be calculated as follows.

Step 1

Take the number of days—

(a) in the benefit week; or

(b) if lower, in the total outstanding reduction period,

and deduct any days in that benefit week or total outstanding reduction period for which the reduction is suspended in accordance with regulation 25.

Step 2

Multiply the number of days produced by step 1 by the daily reduction rate.

Step 3

Deduct the amount produced by step 2 from the amount of the award of jobseeker's allowance for the benefit week.

Daily reduction rate N.I.

28.—(1) The daily reduction rate for the purposes of regulation 27 is the amount applicable to the claimant under regulation 49 multiplied by 52 and divided by 365.

(2) The amount of the rate in paragraph (1) is to be rounded down to the nearest 10 pence.

Failures for which no reduction is applied N.I.

29.—(1) No reduction is to be made to be made in accordance with Article 8J of the Order for a sanctionable failure where—

(a) the sanctionable failure is listed in Article 8J(2)(b) or (c) of the Order (failure to apply for a vacancy for paid work or failure to take up an offer of paid work) and the vacancy has arisen because of a strike arising from a trade dispute;

(b) the sanctionable failure is listed in Article 8J(2)(d) of the Order (ceases paid work or loses pay) and the following circumstances apply

(i) the claimant's work search and work availability requirements are subject to limitations under Articles 8D(4) and 8E(3) of the Order in respect of work available for a certain number of hours;

(ii) the claimant takes up paid work that is for a greater number of hours; and

(iii) the claimant voluntarily ceases that paid work, or loses pay, within a trial period;

(c) the sanctionable failure is listed in Article 8J(3) of the Order (failures that occur before a claim is made) and the period of the reduction that would otherwise apply under regulation 20 is the same as or shorter than the number of days beginning with the day after the date of the sanctionable failure and ending with the day before the date of that claim;

(d) the sanctionable failure is that the claimant voluntarily ceases paid work, or loses pay, because of a strike arising from a trade dispute;

(e) the sanctionable failure is that the claimant voluntarily ceases paid work as a member of the regular forces or the reserve forces (within the meanings in section 374 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 M4 , or loses pay in that capacity; or

(f) the sanctionable failure is that the claimant voluntarily ceases paid work in one of the following circumstances—

(i) the claimant has been dismissed because of redundancy after volunteering or agreeing to be dismissed;

(ii) the claimant has ceased work on an agreed date without being dismissed in pursuance of an agreement relating to voluntary redundancy; or

(iii) the claimant has been laid-off or kept on short-time to the extent specified in Article 183 of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 M5 , and has complied with the requirements of that section.

(2) In this regulation—

“redundancy” has the same meaning as in Article 174(1) of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996;

“strike” has the same meaning as in Article 129 of the trade Union and Labour Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 M6 ;

“trade dispute” has the same meaning as Article 127 of that Order.

Marginal Citations

M4 2006 c. 52; section 374 was amended by paragraph 37 of Schedule 22 to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10)

M5 S.I.1996/1919 (N.I. 16)

M6 S.I. 1995/1980 (N.I. 12)

Sanctions where universal credit ends and the person is entitled to a jobseeker's allowance N.I.

30.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) a person ceases to be entitled to universal credit;

(b) there is a reduction relating to the person's award of universal credit under Article 31 or 32 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015; and

(c) the person is entitled to a jobseeker's allowance.

(2) Any reduction relating to the award of the universal credit is to be applied to the award of the jobseeker's allowance.

(3) The period for which the reduction relating to the award of the jobseeker's allowance is to have effect is the number of days which apply to the person under regulation 100, 101, 102 or 103 of the Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 minus any such days which—

(a) have already resulted in a reduction in the amount of universal credit; or

(b) fall after the date the award of universal credit was terminated and before the date on which the award of a jobseeker's allowance starts.

(4) The daily reduction rate for the reduction relating to the award of the jobseeker's allowance is the amount of the claimant's jobseeker's allowance multiplied by 52 and divided by 365.

(5) The claimant's award of a jobseeker's allowance is to be reduced by the daily reduction amount referred to in paragraph (4) for each day of the period referred to in paragraph (3).