The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

[F1Further circumstances in which a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance is payable to a couple in hardship

146D.—(1) This regulation applies to a couple in hardship falling within paragraph (2) but not paragraph (1) of regulation 146A and is subject to the provisions of regulations 146E and 146F.

(2) A couple in hardship shall be treated as entitled to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance for a period commencing on whichever is the later of—

(a)the 15th day following the date of claim disregarding any waiting days; or

(b)the day on which regulation 146E is complied with,

and ending on the day before the claim is determined where the sole reason for the claim being determined on that day and not earlier is that a question arises as to whether either or both members of that couple satisfy the conditions of entitlement in section 1(2)(a) to (c) provided the joint-claim couple satisfy the conditions set out in section 1(2B)(c).

(3) A joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance shall be payable, subject to paragraph (4), to a couple in hardship even though payment to them of a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance has been suspended in accordance with regulations made under section 21 of the Social Security Act 1998 (suspension of benefit) on the ground that a doubt has arisen as to whether either or both members of that couple satisfy the requirements of section 1(2)(a) to (c) of the Act but the allowance shall be payable only if and for so long as—

(a)the joint-claim couple satisfy the other conditions of entitlement to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance; or

(b)one member satisfies those conditions and the other member comes within any paragraph in Schedule A1 (categories of members not required to satisfy conditions in section 1(2B)(b)).

(4) A joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance shall not be payable in respect of the first 14 days of the period of suspension.

(5) A joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance shall be payable to a couple in hardship even though [F2the award of joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance has been reduced in accordance with section 19 or 19A or regulation 69B] but the allowance—

(a)shall not be payable under this paragraph in respect of the first 14 days of the period to which [F3the reduction] applies; and

(b)shall be payable thereafter only where the conditions of entitlement to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance are satisfied or where one member satisfies those conditions and the other member comes within any paragraph in Schedule A1 (categories of members not required to satisfy conditions in section 1(2B)(b)).]

Textual Amendments