Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992

100 Failure to maintain - general. N.I.

(1) If—

(a) any person persistently refuses or neglects to maintain himself or any person whom he is liable to maintain; and

(b) in consequence of his refusal or neglect income support [F1 , an income-based jobseeker's allowance or an income-related employment and support allowance] is paid to or in respect of him or such a person,

he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to a fine of an amount not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or to both.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) above a person shall not be taken to refuse or neglect to maintain himself or any other person by reason only of anything done or omitted in furtherance of a trade dispute.

[F2 (3) Subject to subsection (4), for the purposes of this Part, a person shall be liable to maintain another person if that other person is—

(a) his or her spouse or civil partner, or

(b) a person whom he or she would be liable to maintain if section 74(6)(c) and (8) had effect for the purposes of this Part.]

[F3 (4) For the purposes of this section, in its application to an income-based jobseeker’s allowance [F4 or an income-related employment and support allowance] , [F5 subsection (3)(b) shall not apply] .]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 100(1)(b) substituted (27.10.2008) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2), s. 60(1), Sch. 3 para. 4(10)(a); S.R. 2008/276, art. 2(2)(d), Sch. Pt. 2

F2 S. 100(3) substituted (14.7.2008) by Child Maintenance Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 10), ss. 35(1), 41(1); S.R. 2008/291, art. 2(1)(b)

F3 S. 100(4) inserted (17.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1705 (N.I. 15), art. 40(1), Sch. 2, para. 36(4); S.R. 1996/285, art. 2, Sch.

F4 Words in s. 100(4) inserted (27.10.2008) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2), s. 60(1), Sch. 3 para. 4(10)(b); S.R. 2008/276, art. 2(2)(d), Sch. Pt. 2

F5 Words in s. 100(4) substituted (14.7.2008) by Child Maintenance Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 10), ss. 35(2), 41(1); S.R. 2008/291, art. 2(1)(b)