Part 10 Social security income

Chapter 4 Taxable UK social security benefits: exemptions

Jobseeker’s allowance

670 Child maintenance bonus

No liability to income tax arises on a part of a jobseeker’s allowance which is attributable to a child maintenance bonus (within the meaning of section 10 of CSA 1995 or Article 4 of CS(NI)O 1995).

671 Amounts in excess of taxable maximum

(1) If the amount of jobseeker’s allowance paid to a person (“the claimant”) for a week or a part of a week exceeds the claimant’s taxable maximum for that period, no liability to income tax arises on the excess.

(2) The claimant’s taxable maximum for a period is determined under sections 672 to 674.

672 Taxable maximum: general

(1) A claimant’s taxable maximum for a week is determined—

(a) under section 673, if the claimant is paid an income-based jobseeker’s allowance for that week, or

(b) under section 674, if the claimant is paid a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance for that week.

(2) A claimant’s taxable maximum for a part of a week is determined as follows—

• Step 1

  Assume that the jobseeker’s allowance is paid to the claimant for the whole of, rather than part of, the week.

• Step 2

  Determine under section 673 or 674 what the claimant’s taxable maximum for that week would be on that assumption.

• Step 3

  Determine the claimant’s taxable maximum for the part of the week using this formula—

  

  where—

  • N is the number of days in the part of the week for which the claimant is actually paid the jobseeker’s allowance, and

  • TMW is the taxable maximum for the whole week determined under step 2.

673 Taxable maximum: income-based jobseeker’s allowance

(1) A claimant’s taxable maximum for a week is determined under this section if—

(a) the claimant is paid an income-based jobseeker’s allowance for that week, or

(b) the claimant is assumed under section 672(2) to be paid an income-based jobseeker’s allowance for that week.

(2) If the claimant is not a member of a married or unmarried couple, the claimant’s taxable maximum for the week is equal to the age-related amount which would be applicable to the claimant if a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance were payable to the claimant for that week.

(3) If the claimant is a member of a married or unmarried couple, the claimant’s taxable maximum for the week is equal to the portion of the applicable amount which is included in the jobseeker’s allowance in respect of the couple for that week.

(4) But if—

(a) the claimant is a member of a married or unmarried couple, and

(b) the other member of that couple is prevented by section 14 of JSA 1995 or Article 16 of JS(NI)O 1995 (trade disputes) from being entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance,

the claimant’s taxable maximum for that week is equal to half the portion of the applicable amount which is included in the jobseeker’s allowance in respect of the couple for that week.

674 Taxable maximum: contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance

(1) A claimant’s taxable maximum for a week is determined under this section if—

(a) the claimant is paid a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance for that week, or

(b) the claimant is assumed under section 672(2) to be paid a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance for that week.

(2) If the claimant is not a member of a married or unmarried couple, the claimant’s taxable maximum for the week is equal to the age-related amount which is applicable to the claimant for that week.

(3) If the claimant is a member of a married or unmarried couple, the claimant’s taxable maximum for the week is equal to the portion of the applicable amount which would be included in the jobseeker’s allowance in respect of the couple if an income-based jobseeker’s allowance were payable to the claimant for that week.

675 Interpretation

(1) In sections 671 to 674, except in relation to Northern Ireland—

• “age-related amount” and “applicable amount” mean the amounts determined as such in accordance with regulations made under section 4 of JSA 1995;

• “contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance” and “income-based jobseeker’s allowance” have the same meaning as in section 1(4) of JSA 1995;

• “married couple” and “unmarried couple” have the same meaning as in section 35(1) of JSA 1995.

(2) In sections 671 to 674, in relation to Northern Ireland—

• “age-related amount” and “applicable amount” mean the amounts determined as such in accordance with regulations made under Article 6 of JS(NI)O 1995;

• “contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance” and “income-based jobseeker’s allowance” have the same meaning as in Article 3(4) of JS(NI)O 1995;

• “married couple” and “unmarried couple” have the same meaning as in Article 2(2) of JS(NI)O 1995.