The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013

Made: 4.19 p.m. on 12th February 2013

Laid before Parliament: 6.15 p.m. on 12th February 2013

Coming into force: 6.45 p.m. on 12th February 2013

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 123(1)(d) and (e), 136(3) and (5)(a) and (b), 137(1) and 175(1), (3) and (4) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 , section 113(1) and (2) of, and paragraph 4 of Schedule 1A to, the Local Government Finance Act 1992 , sections 12(1), (4)(a) and (b), 17A(1), (2) and (5)(a) and (b), 20E(3)(a), 35(1) and 36(2) and (4) of the Jobseekers Act 1995 and sections 30 and 146(1) and (2) of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and sections 17(1) and (3)(a) and (b), 24(1) and 25(2) and (3) of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 .

These Regulations are made with the consent of the Treasury in respect of provisions relating to section 30 (means testing in case of application by owner-occupier or tenant) of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 .

In respect of provisions in these Regulations relating to housing benefit and council tax benefit, in accordance with section 176(2) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 , it appears to the Secretary of State that by reason of the urgency of the matter it is inexpedient to undertake consultations with organisations appearing to the Secretary of State to be representative of the authorities concerned.

In accordance with section 173(1)(a) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, it appears to the Secretary of State that by reason of the urgency of the matter it is inexpedient to refer the proposals in respect of these Regulations to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

PART 1 — Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment

Citation and commencement

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013 and come into force on 12th February 2013 at 6.45pm.

Interpretation

2

• (1) In these Regulations—

• “the Act” means the Jobseekers Act 1995;

• “claimant” means a person who claims a jobseeker's allowance, except that in relation to a joint-claim couple claiming a joint-claim jobseeker's allowance, it means either or both of the members of the couple;

• “the Council Tax Benefit Regulations” means the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 ;

• “the Housing Benefit Regulations” means the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 ;

• “the Housing Renewal Grants Regulations” means the Housing Renewal Grants Regulations 1996 ;

• “the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations” means the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996 ;

• “working day” means any day except for a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in England and Wales or in Scotland.

• (2) For the purpose of these Regulations where a written notice is given by sending it by post it is taken to have been received on the second working day after posting.

Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment

3

• (1) The schemes described in the following paragraphs are prescribed for the purposes of section 17A(1) (schemes for assisting persons to obtain employment: “work for your benefit” schemes etc) of the Act.

• (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (4) Full-time Training Flexibility is a scheme comprising training of 16 to 30 hours per week, for any claimant who has been receiving jobseeker's allowance for a continuous period of not less than 26 weeks ending on the first required entry date to the scheme.

• (5) New Enterprise Allowance is a scheme designed to assist a claimant into self-employed earner's employment comprising guidance and support provided by a business mentor, access to a loan to help with start-up costs (subject to status) and a weekly allowance for a period of 26 weeks once the claimant starts trading.

• (6) The sector-based work academy is a scheme which provides, for a period of up to 6 weeks, training to enable a claimant to gain the skills needed in the work place and a work experience placement for a period to be agreed with the claimant, and either a job interview with an employer or support to help participants through an employer's application process.

• (7) Skills Conditionality is a scheme comprising training or other activity designed to assist a claimant to obtain skills needed to obtain employment.

• (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (8A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (8B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (8C) The Work and Health Programme is a scheme designed to assist a claimant who is long-term unemployed in which, for a period of up to 456 calendar days, the claimant is given such support, and required to participate in such activity, as the provider of the Work and Health Programme considers appropriate and reasonable in the claimant’s circumstances to assist the claimant to obtain and sustain employment.

• (8D) The Restart Scheme is a scheme which provides support for a period of up to 12 months for claimants who have been unemployed for 9 months or more and reside in England and Wales.

• (9) In this regulation—

• ...

• ...

• “self-employed earner” has the same meaning as in section 2(1)(b) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992; and

• ...

Selection for participation in a Scheme

4

• (1) The Secretary of State may select a claimant for participation in a scheme described in regulation 3.

• (2) The scheme in which the claimant is selected to participate is referred to in these Regulations as “the Scheme”.

Requirement to participate and notification

5

• (1) Subject to regulation 6, a claimant selected under regulation 4 is required to participate in the Scheme where the Secretary of State gives the claimant a notice in writing complying with paragraph (2).

• (2) The notice must specify—

• (a) that the claimant is required to participate in the Scheme;

• (b) the day on which the claimant's participation will start;

• (c) details of what the claimant is required to do by way of participation in the Scheme;

• (d) that the requirement to participate in the Scheme will continue until the claimant is given notice by the Secretary of State that the claimant's participation is no longer required, or the claimant's award of jobseeker's allowance terminates, whichever is earlier; and

• (e) information about the consequences of failing to participate in the Scheme.

• (3) Any changes made to the requirements mentioned in paragraph (2)(c) after the date on which the claimant's participation starts must be notified to the claimant in writing.

Circumstances in which requirement to participate in the Scheme is suspended or ceases to apply

6

• (1) Paragraph (2) applies where a claimant is—

• (a) subject to a requirement to participate in the Scheme; and

• (b) while the claimant is subject to such a requirement, the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations apply so that the claimant is not required to meet the jobseeking conditions .

• (2) Where this paragraph applies the claimant's requirement to participate in the Scheme is suspended for the period during which the claimant is not required to meet the jobseeking conditions.

• (3) A requirement to participate in the Scheme ceases to apply to a claimant if—

• (a) the Secretary of State gives the claimant notice in writing that the claimant is no longer required to participate in the Scheme; or

• (b) the claimant's award of jobseeker's allowance terminates,

whichever is earlier.

• (4) If the Secretary of State gives the claimant a notice in writing under paragraph (3)(a), the requirement to participate in the Scheme ceases to apply on the day specified in the notice.

Exemptions from requirement to meet the jobseeking conditions

7

• (1) A claimant who is participating in the New Enterprise Allowance scheme described in regulation 3(5) is not required to meet the condition set out in section 1(2)(c) of the Act (conditions for entitlement to a jobseeker's allowance: actively seeking employment).

• (2) A claimant who is participating in the Scheme is not required to meet the conditions set out in section 1(2)(a) and (c) of the Act (conditions for entitlement to a jobseeker's allowance: available for and actively seeking employment) if the claimant is a full-time student.

• (3) A claimant who is participating in the Scheme is not required to meet the conditions set out in section 1(2)(a) and (c) of the Act if the claimant has been discharged from detention in a prison, remand centre or youth custody institution, for one week commencing with the date of that discharge.

• (4) In this regulation, “full-time student” has the same meaning as in regulation 1(3) of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations.

PART 2 — Consequential Amendments

Definitions

8

• (1) Paragraph (2) applies to the following provisions (which relate to interpretation)—

• (a) regulation 2(1) of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations;

• (b) regulation 2(1) of the Housing Benefit Regulations; and

• (c) regulation 1(3) of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations.

• (2) At the end of paragraph (b) of the definition of “self-employment route” in each of the provisions to which this paragraph applies insert—

; or (c) a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013;

• (3) At the end of paragraph (b)(iv) of the definition of “self-employment route” in regulation 2(1) of the Housing Renewal Grants Regulations (interpretation) insert—

; or (v) a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013;

Notional income

9

• (1) This regulation applies to the following provisions (which relate to notional income)—

• (a) regulation 32(7) of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations;

• (b) regulation 42(7) of the Housing Benefit Regulations;

• (c) regulation 31(9A) of the Housing Renewal Grants Regulations; and

• (d) regulation 105(10A) of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations.

• (2) In each of the provisions to which this regulation applies, after sub-paragraph (cb) insert—

(cc) in respect of a claimant's participation in a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013;

Notional capital

10

• (1) This regulation applies to the following provisions (which relate to notional capital)—

• (a) regulation 39(4) of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations;

• (b) regulation 49(4) of the Housing Benefit Regulations;

• (c) regulation 38(3A) of the Housing Renewal Grants Regulations; and

• (d) regulation 113(3A) of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations.

• (2) In each of the provisions to which this regulation applies, after sub-paragraph (bb) insert—

(bc) in respect of a claimant's participation in a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013;

Income to be disregarded

11

• (1) This regulation applies to the following provisions (which relate to sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings)—

• (a) Schedule 4 to the Council Tax Benefit Regulations;

• (b) Schedule 5 to the Housing Benefit Regulations;

• (c) Schedule 3 to the Housing Renewal Grants Regulations; and

• (d) Schedule 7 to the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations.

• (2) In each of the provisions to which this regulation applies, after paragraph A2 insert—

(A3) Any payment made to the claimant in respect of any travel or other expenses incurred, or to be incurred, by him in respect of his participation in a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013.

Capital to be disregarded

12

• (1) This regulation applies to the following provisions (which relate to capital to be disregarded)—

• (a) Schedule 5 to the Council Tax Benefit Regulations;

• (b) Schedule 6 to the Housing Benefit Regulations;

• (c) Schedule 4 to the Housing Renewal Grants Regulations; and

• (d) Schedule 8 to the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations.

• (2) In each of the provisions to which this regulation applies, after paragraph A2 insert—

(A3) Any payment made to the claimant in respect of any travel or other expenses incurred, or to be incurred, by him in respect of his participation in a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013 but only for 52 weeks beginning with the date of receipt of the payment.

Amendments to the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987

13

The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 are amended as follows—

• (a) in regulation 2 (interpretation) omit the definition of “the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme”; and

• (b) in regulation 42(4ZA)(ca) (notional income), regulation 51(3A)(ba) (notional capital), paragraph 1A of Schedule 9 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) and paragraph 1A of Schedule 10 (capital to be disregarded) for “the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme” substitute “ a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013 ”.

Further amendments to the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations

14

The Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations are amended as follows—

• (a) in regulation 14(1)(h) (circumstances in which a person is to be treated as available) for “the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme under regulation 4(1) of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme) Regulations 2011” substitute “ a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013 ”;

• (b) in the definition of “relevant notification” in regulation 25(1A) (entitlement ceasing on a failure to comply), after “training scheme” insert “ , under a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013 ”; and

• (c) at the end of regulation 53 (persons treated as not engaged in remunerative work) insert—

(m) he is participating in a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013.

Amendments to the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008

15

The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 are amended as follows—

• (a) in regulation 2 (interpretation) omit the definition of “the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme”; and

• (b) in regulation 107(5)(ca) (notional income – income due to be paid or income paid to or in respect of a third party), regulation 115(5)(ba) (notional capital), paragraph 1A of Schedule 8 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) and paragraph 1A of Schedule 9 (capital to be disregarded) for “the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme” substitute “ a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013 ”.

Amendments to the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Default Scheme) (England) Regulations 2012

16

The Schedule to the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Default Scheme) (England) Regulations 2012 is amended as follows—

• (a) in paragraph 2 (interpretation)—

• (i) omit the definition of “the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme”;

• (ii) in the definition of “self-employment route” for paragraph (c) substitute—

(c) a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013;

• (b) in paragraphs 56(4)(f) (notional income: persons who are not pensioners) and 67(6)(e) (notional capital) for “the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme” substitute “ a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013 ”; and

• (c) in paragraph 3 of Schedule 8 (sums disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings: persons who are not pensioners) and paragraph 3 of Schedule 10 (capital disregards: persons who are not pensioners) for “the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme” substitute “ a scheme prescribed in regulation 3 of the Jobseeker's Allowance (Schemes for Assisting Persons to Obtain Employment) Regulations 2013 ”.

PART 3 — Contracting Out

Contracting out certain functions

17

• (1) Any function of the Secretary of State specified in paragraph (2) may be exercised by, or by employees of, such person (if any) as may be authorised by the Secretary of State.

• (2) The functions are any function under—

• (a) regulation 5 (requirement to participate and notification); and

• (b) regulation 6(3)(a) (notice that requirement to participate ceases).

Signed

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Mark Hoban — Minister of State

We consent

David Evennett — Stephen Crabb — Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury

Explanatory note