The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

Chapter I General

Calculation of income and capital of members of claimant’s family and of a polygamous marriage

88.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) [F1and regulations 88ZA (calculation of income and capital of a joint-claim couple) and] 106 (modifications in respect of children and young persons), the income and capital of a claimant’s partner and the income of a child or young person which by virtue of section 13(2) is to be treated as the income and capital of the claimant, shall be calculated in accordance with the following provisions of this Part in like manner as for the claimant; and any reference to the “claimant" shall, except where the context otherwise requires, be construed, for the purposes of this Part, as if it were a reference to his partner or that child or young person.

(2) Regulations 99(2) and 101(2), so far as they relate to paragraphs 1 to 13 and 19 of Schedule 6 (earnings to be disregarded) and regulation 104(1) (capital treated as income) shall not apply to a child or young person.

(3) Where at least one member of a couple is aged less than 18 and the applicable amount of the couple falls to be determined under [F2paragraph 1(3)(b), (c), (g) or (h)] of Schedule 1 (applicable amounts), the income of the claimant’s partner shall not be treated as the income of the claimant to the extent that—

(a)in the case of a couple where both members are aged less than 18, the amount specified in paragraph 1(3)(a) of that Schedule exceeds the amount specified in paragraph 1(3)(c) of that Schedule; and

(b)in the case of a couple where only one member is aged less than 18, the amount specified in paragraph 1(3)(e) of that Schedule exceeds the amount which applies in that case which is specified in [F3paragraph 1(3)(g) or (h)] of that Schedule.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), where a claimant is married polygamously to two or more members of his household—

(a)the claimant shall be treated as possessing capital and income belonging to each such member and the income of any child or young person who is one of that member’s family; and

(b)the income and capital of that member or, as the case may be, the income of that child or young person shall be calculated in accordance with the following provisions of this Part in like manner as for the claimant or, as the case may be, as for any child or young person who is a member of his family.

(5) Where a member of a polygamous marriage is a partner aged less than 18 and the amount which applies in respect of him under regulation 84(2) (polygamous marriages) is nil, the claimant shall not be treated as possessing the income of that partner to the extent that an amount in respect of him would have been included in the applicable amount if he had fallen within the circumstances set out in regulation 84(2)(a) or (b).

[F4Calculation of income and capital of a joint-claim couple

88ZA.(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (4), the income and capital of a joint-claim couple shall be calculated by—

(a)determining the income and capital of each member of that couple in accordance with this Part; and

(b)aggregating the amount determined in respect of each member in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) above.

(2) Where—

(a)a member of a joint-claim couple is aged less than 18;

(b)the other member is aged over 18; and

(c)the applicable amount of the couple falls to be determined under paragraph 1(3)(g) or (h) of Schedule 1 (applicable amounts),

the income of the joint-claim couple shall not be aggregated to the extent that the amount specified in paragraph 1(3)(e) of that Schedule exceeds the amount which applies in that case which is specified in paragraph 1(3)(g) or (h) of that Schedule.

(3) Where a member of a joint-claim couple is married polygamously to two or more members of his household, the joint-claim couple shall be treated as possessing income and capital belonging to each such member and the income and capital of that member shall be calculated in accordance with the following provisions of this Part in like manner as for each member of the joint-claim couple.

(4) Regulations 99(2) and 101(2) in so far as they relate to paragraphs 5, 7, 8 and 11 of Schedule 6 (earnings to be disregarded) shall not apply to a member of a joint-claim couple but there shall instead be disregarded from the net earnings of a member of a joint-claim couple any sum, where applicable, specified in—

(a)paragraphs 1 to 4 and 13 to 16 of Schedule 6; and

(b)paragraphs 1 to 6 of Schedule 6A.]

[F5 Income of participants in the self-employment route F6...

88A.  Chapters II, III, IV, V, VII and VIII of this Part and regulations 131 to 136, 138 and 139 shall not apply to any income which is to be calculated in accordance with Chapter IVA of this Part (participants in the self-employment routeF7...).]

Liable relative payments

89.  Regulations 94 to 106, 108 to 115 and Chapter IX of this Part shall not apply to any payment which is to be calculated in accordance with Chapter VII thereof (liable relatives).

Child support

90.  Regulations 94, 96, 97, 103 and 105 and Chapters VII and IX of this Part shall not apply to any payment which is to be calculated in accordance with Chapter VIII of this Part (child support).

Calculation of income and capital of full-time students

91.  The provisions of Chapters II to VI of this Part (income and capital) shall have effect in relation to full-time students and their partners subject to the modifications set out in Chapter IX thereof (full-time students).

Rounding of fractions

92.  Where any calculation under this Part results in a fraction of a penny that fraction shall, if it would be to the claimant’s advantage, be treated as a penny, otherwise it shall be disregarded.