F6 Bonus Period4
1
A bonus period comprises only days falling on or after 7th April 1997F1, other than days to which paragraph (9) applies, on which—
a
the applicant or, where the applicant has a partner, her partner is entitled to, or is treated as entitled to a qualifying benefit whether it is payable or not;
b
the applicant has residing with her a qualifying child; and
2
Any two or more bonus periods separated by any one connected period shall be treated as one bonus period
3
For the purposes of these Regulations, “a connected period" is—
a
any period of not more than 12 weeks falling between two bonus periods to which paragraph (1) refers;
b
any period of not more than 12 weeks throughout which—
F2i
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ii
the applicant ceases to be entitled to a qualifying benefit on becoming one of a couple and the couple fail to satisfy the conditions of entitlement to a qualifying benefit; or
c
any period throughout which maternity allowance is payable to the applicant; or
d
any period of not more than 2 years throughout which incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance or F7a carer’s allowance is payable to the applicant.
4
In calculating any period for the purposes of paragraph (3) no regard shall be had to any day which falls before 7th April 1997.
5
Bonus periods separated by two or more connected periods shall not link to form a single bonus period but shall instead remain separate bonus periods.
6
Where a qualifying child is temporarily absent for a period not exceeding 12 weeks from the home he shares with the applicant, the applicant shall be treated as satisfying the requirements of paragraph (1)(b) throughout that absence.
7
A bonus period which would, but for this paragraph, have continued shall end—
a
where the applicant or, where the applicant has a partner, her partner, satisfies the work condition and claims a bonus, on the last day of entitlement to a qualifying benefit to which any award made on that claim applies; or
F3b
on the date of death of a person with care of a qualifying child to whom child maintenance is payable.
F48
In paragraphs (1)(c)(i) and (9) “claimant”—
a
where the qualifying benefit is income support, means a person who claims income support; and
b
where the qualifying benefit is a jobseeker’s allowance, means a person who claims a jobseeker’s allowance.
9
This paragraph applies to days on which the claimant is a person to whom—
a
regulation 70 of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 (urgent cases) applies other than by virtue of paragraph (2)(a) of that regulation (certain persons from abroad), or
b
regulation 147 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 applies other than by virtue of paragraph (2)(a) of that regulation.