For the purposes of section 1(3)(aa) of the Act M1, a claimant who has accepted a claimant commitment within such period after making a claim for an employment and support allowance as the Secretary of State specifies is to be treated as having accepted that claimant commitment on the first day of the period in respect of which the claim is made.

In a case where an award of an employment and support allowance may be made without a claim, a claimant who accepts a claimant commitment within such period as the Secretary of State specifies is to be treated as having accepted a claimant commitment on the day that would be the first day of the first benefit week in relation to the award.

The Secretary of State may extend the period within which a claimant is required to accept a claimant commitment or an updated claimant commitment where the claimant requests an extension and the Secretary of State considers that the request is reasonable.