PART 2THE ASSESSMENT PHASE
The end of the assessment phase4
1
F182
Where paragraph (3) applies, the assessment phase is to end when it is determined whether the claimant has limited capability for work.
F183
This paragraph applies where, at the end of F23the relevant period—
a
the claimant has not been assessed in accordance with a limited capability for work assessment; and
b
the claimant has not been treated as having limited capability for work in accordance with regulations 20, 25, 26, 29 or 33(2) (persons to be treated as having limited capability for work).
F244
In this regulation, “the relevant period” means the period of 13 weeks beginning with—
a
the first day of the assessment phase as determined under section 24(2)(a) of the Act; or
b
where that day immediately follows an extended period of sickness, the first day of the extended period of sickness.
5
In paragraph (4), “extended period of sickness” means a period in which the claimant was—
a
entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance; and
b
treated as capable of work or as not having limited capability for work under regulation 55ZA of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 or regulation 46A of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 2013 (extended period of sickness).
The assessment phase – previous claimants5
1
Where the circumstances in paragraph (2) apply in relation to a claimant the assessment phase —
a
begins on the first day of the period for which the claimant was previously entitled to an employment and support allowance; and
b
subject to F19paragraphs (3), (3A) and (4) , ends on the day when the sum of the period for which the claimant was previously entitled to an employment and support allowance and the period for which the claimant is currently entitled to such an allowance is 13 weeks.
F251A
For the purposes of paragraph (1), any period when the claimant was—
a
entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance; and
b
treated as capable of work or as not having limited capability for work under regulation 55ZA of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 or regulation 46A of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 2013,
is to be treated as a period when the claimant was previously entitled to an employment and support allowance.
2
The circumstances are that—
a
i
the claimant's current period of limited capability for work is to be treated as a continuation of an earlier period of limited capability for work under regulation 145(1) F11...;
ii
the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance in the earlier period of limited capability for work; F7...
iii
the assessment phase had not ended in the previous period for which the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance; F8and
F6iv
the period for which the claimant was previously entitled was no more than 13 weeks; or
F12b
i
the claimant’s current period of limited capability for work is to be treated as a continuation of an earlier period of limited capability for work under regulation 145(1),
ii
the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance in the earlier period of limited capability for work,
iii
the previous period of limited capability for work was terminated by virtue of a determination that the claimant did not have limited capability for work,
iv
the period for which the claimant was previously entitled was no more than 13 weeks, and
v
a determination is made in relation to the current period of limited capability for work that the claimant has or is treated as having limited capability for work, other than under regulation 30; or
F12c
i
the claimant’s current period of limited capability for work is to be treated as a continuation of an earlier period of limited capability for work under regulation 145(1),
ii
the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance in the earlier period of limited capability for work,
iii
in relation to the previous award of an employment and support allowance, a determination was made that the claimant had limited capability for work or was treated as having limited capability for work, other than under regulation 30, and
iv
the period for which the claimant was previously entitled was no more than 13 weeks.
F203
Where paragraph (3A) applies, the assessment phase is to end when it is determined whether the claimant has limited capability for work.
F203A
This paragraph applies where on the day referred to in paragraph (1)(b)—
a
the claimant has not been assessed in accordance with a limited capability for work assessment; and
b
the claimant has not been treated as having limited capability for work in accordance with regulations 20, 25, 26, 29 or 33(2) (persons to be treated as having limited capability for work).
F54
Where a person has made and is pursuing an appeal against a decision of the Secretary of State that embodies a determination that the claimant does not have limited capability for work—
a
F21paragraphs (3) and (3A) do not apply; and
b
paragraph (1) does not apply to any period of limited capability for work to which regulation 147A(2) applies until a determination of limited capability for work has been made following the determination of the appeal by the First-tier Tribunal.
The assessment phase – claimants appealing against a decisionF96
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Circumstances where the condition that the assessment phase has ended before entitlement to the support component or the work-related activity component arises does not apply7
1
Subject to paragraph (2), sections 2(2)(a), 2(3)(a), 4(4)(a) and 4(5)(a) of the Act do not apply where—
a
a claimant is terminally ill and has either—
i
made a claim expressly on the ground of being terminally ill; or
F14b
the case is a relevant linked case;
F2c
i
the claimant’s entitlement to an employment and support allowance commences within 12 weeks of the claimant’s entitlement to income support coming to an end;
ii
in relation to that entitlement to income support, immediately before it ended the claimant’s applicable amount included the disability premium by virtue of satisfying the conditions in paragraphs 11 and 12 of Schedule 2 to the Income Support Regulations; and
F13d
a claimant is entitled to an employment and support allowance by virtue of section 1B of the Act (further entitlement after time-limiting).
F151A
For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) a relevant linked case is a case mentioned in paragraph (1B) where a period of limited capability for work is to be treated as a continuation of an earlier period of limited capability for work under regulation 145(1).
1B
Paragraph (1A) applies to the following cases—
a
case 1 is where–
i
the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance (including entitlement to a component under sections 2(2), 2(3), 4(4) or 4(5) of the Act) in the earlier period of limited capability for work, and
ii
the previous period for which the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance was terminated other than by virtue of a determination that the claimant did not have limited capability for work;
b
case 2 is where–
i
the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance in the earlier period of limited capability for work,
ii
the previous period for which the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance was 13 weeks or longer,
iii
the previous period for which the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance was terminated by virtue of a determination that the claimant did not have, or was treated as not having, limited capability for work, and
iv
it is determined in relation to the current period of limited capability for work that the claimant has limited capability for work or is treated as having limited capability for work, other than under regulation 30;
c
case 3 is where–
i
the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance in the earlier period of limited capability for work,
ii
the previous period for which the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance was 13 weeks or longer,
iii
the previous period for which the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance was terminated before it could be determined whether the claimant had limited capability for work or was treated as having limited capability for work, other than under regulation 30, and
iv
it is determined in relation to the current period of limited capability for work that the claimant has limited capability for work or is treated as having limited capability for work, other than under regulation 30; and
d
case 4 is where–
i
the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance (including entitlement to a component under sections 2(2), 2(3), 4(4) or 4(5) of the Act) in the earlier period of limited capability for work,
ii
the previous period for which the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance was terminated because it was determined that the claimant did not have limited capability for work or was treated as not having limited capability for work, and
iii
it is determined in relation to the current period of limited capability for work that the claimant has limited capability for work or is treated as having limited capability for work, other than under regulation 30.
2
Paragraph (1)(b) does not apply F10to any period of limited capability for work to which regulation 147A(2) applies until the determination of limited capability for work has been made following the determination of the appeal by the First-tier Tribunal.