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The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

Type Ni-Statutory-Rule

Publication 2008-07-01

Last updated 2026-02-01

State In force

Jurisdiction Northern Ireland

Department Government Printer for Northern Ireland

Source legislation.gov.uk

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(2) Where the Department is satisfied that there is sufficient information to determine whether a claimant has limited capability for work without the information specified in paragraph (1)(b), that information must not be required for the purposes of making the determination.

(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply in relation to a determination whether a claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work in accordance with regulation 20, 25, 26 or 33(2).

Failure to provide information in relation to limited capability for work

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(1) Where a claimant fails without good cause to comply with the request referred to in regulation 21(1)(b), that claimant is, subject to paragraph (2), to be treated as not having limited capability for work.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply unless—

(a) the claimant was sent a further request at least 3 weeks after the date of the first request;

(b) ...at least 3 weeks after the date of the first request, and at least 1 week has e passed since the further request was sent.

Claimant may be called for a medical examination to determine whether the claimant has limited capability for work

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(1) Where it falls to be determined whether a claimant has limited capability for work, that claimant may be called by or on behalf of a health care professional approved by the Department to attend for a medical examination in person, by telephone or by video .

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where a claimant fails without good cause to attend for or to submit to an examination mentioned in paragraph (1), the claimant is to be treated as not having limited capability for work.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply unless—

(a) written notice of the date, time and place for the examination was sent to the claimant at least 7 days in advance; or

(b) that claimant agreed to accept a shorter period of notice whether given in writing or otherwise.

Matters to be taken into account in determining good cause in relation to regulation 22 or 23

24

The matters to be taken into account in determining whether a claimant has good cause under regulation 22 or 23 include—

(a) whether the claimant was outside Northern Ireland at the relevant time;

(b) the claimant’s state of health at the relevant time; and

Hospital in-patients

25

(1) A claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work on any day on which that claimant is undergoing medical or other treatment as a patient in a hospital or similar institution, or on any day which is a day of recovery from that treatment.

(2) The circumstances in which a claimant is to be regarded as undergoing treatment falling within paragraph (1) include where the claimant is attending a residential programme of rehabilitation for the treatment of drug or alcohol addiction.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation, a claimant is to be regarded as undergoing treatment as a patient in a hospital or similar institution only if that claimant has been advised by a health care professional to stay in a hospital or similar institution for a period of 24 hours or longer.

(4) For the purposes of this regulation, “day of recovery” means a day on which a claimant is recovering from treatment as a patient in a hospital or similar institution and the Department is satisfied that the claimant should be treated as having limited capability for work on that day.

Claimants receiving certain regular treatment

26

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a claimant receiving—

(a) regular weekly treatment by way of haemodialysis for chronic renal failure;

(b) treatment by way of or by way of radiotherapy or by way of radiotherapy; or

is to be treated as having limited capability for work during any week in which that claimant is engaged in receiving that treatment or has a day of recovery from that treatment.

(2) A claimant who receives the treatment referred to in paragraph (1) is only to be treated as having limited capability for work from the first week of treatment in which the claimant undergoes no fewer than—

(a) two days of treatment;

(b) two days of recovery from any of the forms of treatment listed in paragraph (1); or

but the days of treatment or recovery from that treatment or both need not be consecutive.

(3) For the purpose of this regulation “day of recovery” means a day on which a claimant is recovering from any of the forms of treatment listed in paragraph (1) and the Department is satisfied that the claimant should be treated as having limited capability for work on that day.

Claimant to be treated as having limited capability for work throughout a day

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A claimant who at the commencement of any day has, or thereafter develops, limited capability for work as determined in accordance with the limited capability for work assessment is to be treated as having limited capability for work throughout that day.

Night workers

28

(1) Where a claimant works for a continuous period which extends over midnight into the following day, that claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work on the day on which the lesser part of that period falls if that claimant had limited capability for work for the remainder of that day.

(2) Where, in relation to a period referred to in paragraph (1), the number of hours worked before and after midnight is equal—

(a) if the days in question fall at the beginning of a period of limited capability for work, the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability on the second day; and

(b) if the days in question fall at the end of a period of limited capability for work, the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work on the first day.

Exceptional circumstances

29

(1) A claimant who does not have limited capability for work as determined in accordance with the limited capability for work assessment is to be treated as having limited capability for work if paragraph (2) applies to the claimant.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) this paragraph applies if—

(a) the claimant is suffering from a life threatening disease in relation to which—

(i) there is medical evidence that the disease is uncontrollable, or uncontrolled, by a recognised therapeutic procedure; and

(ii) in the case of a disease that is uncontrolled, there is a reasonable cause for it not to be controlled by a recognised therapeutic procedure; or

(b) the claimant suffers from some specific disease or bodily or mental disablement and, by reasons of such disease or disablement, there would be a substantial risk to the mental or physical health of any person if the claimant were found not to have limited capability for work.

(3) Paragraph (2)(b) does not apply where the risk could be reduced by a significant amount by—

(a) reasonable adjustments being made in the claimant's workplace, or

(b) the claimant taking medication to manage the claimant's condition where such medication has been prescribed for the claimant by a registered medical practitioner treating the claimant.

(4) In this regulation “medical evidence” means—

(a) evidence from a health care professional approved by the Department; and

(b) evidence (if any) from any health care professional or a hospital or similar institution,

or such part of such evidence as constitutes the most reliable evidence available in the circumstances.

Conditions for treating a claimant as having limited capability for work until a determination about limited capability for work has been made

30

(1) A claimant is, if the conditions set out in paragraph (2) are met, to be treated as having limited capability for work until such time as it is determined—

(a) whether or not the claimant has limited capability for work;

(b) whether or not the claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work otherwise than in accordance with this regulation; or

(c) whether the claimant is to be treated as not having limited capability for work in accordance with regulation 22 or 23.

(2) The conditions are—

(a) that the claimant provides evidence of limited capability for work in accordance with the Medical Evidence Regulations; and

(b) in relation to the claimant’s entitlement to any benefit, allowance or advantage which is dependent on the claimant having limited capability for work, it has not been determined—

(i) in the last determination preceding the date of claim for an employment and support allowance, that the claimant does not have limited capability for work, or

(ii) within the 6 months preceding the date of claim for an employment and support allowance, that the claimant is to be treated as not having limited capability for work under regulation 22 or 23,

unless paragraph (4) applies.

(3) Paragraph (2)(b) does not apply where a claimant has made and is pursuing an appeal against a relevant decision of the Department, and that appeal has not yet been determined by an appeal tribunal.

(4) This paragraph applies where—

(a) the claimant is suffering from some specific disease or bodily or mental disablement from which the claimant was not suffering at the time of that determination;

(b) a disease or bodily or mental disablement from which the claimant was suffering at the time of that determination has significantly worsened; or

(c) in the case of a claimant who was treated as not having limited capability for work under regulation 22 (failure to provide information in relation to limited capability for work), the claimant has since provided the information requested under that regulation.

(5) In this regulation a “relevant decision” means—

(a) a decision that embodies the first determination by the Department that the claimant does not have limited capability for work; or

(b) a decision that embodies the first determination by the Department that the claimant does not have limited capability for work since a previous determination by the Department or appellate authority that the claimant does have limited capability for work.

(6) In this regulation “appellate authority” means an appeal tribunal, a Commissioner (as defined in section 167 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) 1992), the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.

Claimant who claims jobseeker’s allowance to be treated as not having limited capability for work

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Certain claimants to be treated as not having limited capability for work

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(1) A claimant who is or has been a member of Her Majesty’s forces is to be treated as not having limited capability for work on any day which is recorded by the Secretary of State ...as a day of sickness absence from duty.

(2) A claimant is to be treated as not having limited capability for work on any day on which the claimant attends a training course in respect of which the claimant is paid a training allowance or premium pursuant to arrangements made under section 1 or 3 of the Employment and Training Act.

(3) Paragraph (2) is not to apply—

(a) for the purposes of any claim to employment and support allowance for a period commencing after the claimant ceased attending the training course in question; or

(b) where any training allowance or premium paid to the claimant is paid for the sole purpose of travelling or meal expenses incurred or to be incurred under the arrangement made under section 1 or 3 of the Employment and Training Act.

Additional circumstances where claimants are to be treated as having limited capability for work

33

(1) For the purposes of paragraph 4(1)(d)(ii) of Schedule 1 to the Act, a claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work on any day in respect of which that claimant is entitled to statutory sick pay.

(2) For the purposes of an income-related allowance, a claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work where—

(a) that claimant is not a qualifying young person;

(b) that claimant is receiving education; and

34

(1) For the purposes of Part 1 of the Act, where, by reason of a claimant’s physical or mental condition, at least one of the descriptors set out in Schedule 3 applies to the claimant, the claimant has limited capability for work-related activity ...and the limitation must be such that it is not reasonable to require that claimant to undertake such activity.

(2) A descriptor applies to a claimant if that descriptor applies to the claimant for the majority of the time or, as the case may be, on the majority of the occasions on which the claimant undertakes or attempts to undertake the activity described by that descriptor.

(3) In determining whether a descriptor applies to the claimant, the claimant is to be assessed as if—

(a) the claimant were fitted with or wearing any prosthesis with which the claimant is normally fitted or normally wears; or, as the case may be,

(b) wearing or using any aid or appliance which is normally, or could reasonably be expected to be, worn or used.

(3A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) Where a determination has been made about whether a claimant—

(a) has limited capability for work-related activity;

(b) is to be treated as having limited capability for work-related activity; or

the Department may, if paragraph (5) applies, determine afresh whether the claimant has or is to be treated as having limited capability for work-related activity.

(5) This paragraph applies where—

(a) the Department wishes to determine whether there has been a relevant change of circumstances in relation to the claimant’s physical or mental condition;

(b) the Department wishes to determine whether the previous determination about limited capability for work-related activity or about treating the claimant as having or as not having limited capability for work-related activity, was made in ignorance of, or was based on a mistake as to, some material fact; or

(c) at least 3 months have passed since the date of the previous determination about limited capability for work-related activity or about treating the claimant as having or as not having limited capability for work-related activity.

(6) In assessing the extent of a claimant's capability to perform any activity listed in Schedule 3, it is a condition that the claimant's incapability to perform the action arises—

(a) in respect of descriptors 1 to 8, 15(a) and (b) and 16(a) and (b)—

(i) from a specific bodily disease or disablement, or

(ii) as a direct result of treatment provided by a registered medical practitioner for a specific physical disease or disablement; or

(b) in respect of descriptors 9 to 14, 15(c) and (d) and 16(c) and (d)—

(i) from a specific mental illness or disablement, or

(ii) as a direct result of treatment provided by a registered medical practitioner for a specific mental illness or disablement.

35

(1) A claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work-related activity if—

(a) the claimant is terminally ill;

(b) the claimant is—

(i) receiving treatment for cancer by way of chemotherapy or radiotherapy,

(ii) likely to receive such treatment within 6 months after the date of the determination of capability for work-related activity, or

(iii) recovering from such treatment,

and the Department is satisfied that the claimant should be treated as having limited capability for work-related activity; or

(c) in the case of a pregnant woman, there is a serious risk of damage to her health or to the health of her unborn child if she does not refrain from work-related activity.

(2) A claimant who does not have limited capability for work-related activity as determined in accordance with regulation 34(1) is to be treated as having limited capability for work-related activity if—

(a) the claimant suffers from some specific disease or bodily or mental disablement; and

(b) by reasons of such disease or disablement, there would be a substantial risk to the mental or physical health of any person if the claimant were found not to have limited capability for work-related activity.

36

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the information or evidence required to determine whether a claimant has limited capability for work-related activity is—

(a) any information relating to the descriptors set out in Schedule 3 as may be requested in the form of a questionnaire; and

(b) any such additional information as may be requested.

(2) Where the Department is satisfied that there is sufficient information to determine whether a claimant has limited capability for work-related activity without the information specified in paragraph (1)(a), that information must not be required for the purposes of making the determination.

37

(1) Where a claimant fails without good cause to comply with the request referred to in regulation 36(1)(a), the claimant is, subject to paragraph (2), to be treated as not having limited capability for work-related activity.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply unless—

(a) the claimant was sent a further request at least 3 weeks after the date of the first request; and

(b) ...and at least 1 week has passed since the further request was sent.

38

(1) Where it falls to be determined whether a claimant has limited capability for work-related activity, that claimant may be called by or on behalf of a health care professional approved by the Department to attend for a medical examination in person, by telephone or by video .

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where a claimant fails without good cause to attend for or to submit to an examination mentioned in paragraph (1), the claimant is to be treated as not having limited capability for work-related activity.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply unless—

(a) written notice of the date, time and place for the examination was sent to the claimant at least 7 days in advance; or

(b) the claimant agreed to accept a shorter period of notice whether given in writing or otherwise.

Matters to be taken into account in determining good cause in relation to regulation 37 or38

39

The matters to be taken into account in determining whether a claimant has good cause under regulation 37 or 38 include—

(a) whether the claimant was outside Northern Ireland at the relevant time;

(b) the claimant’s state of health at the relevant time; and

PART 7 — EFFECT OF WORK ON ENTITLEMENT TO AN EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE

A claimant who works to be treated as not entitled to an employment and support allowance

40

(1) Subject to the following paragraphs, a claimant is to be treated as not entitled to an employment and support allowance in any week in which that claimant does work.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to—

(a) work as a councillor;

(b) duties undertaken on either one full day or 2 half-days a week as—

(i) a member of the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board, or

(ii) a panel member with a disability qualification, as defined in regulation 1(2) of the Decisions and Appeals Regulations, acting as a member of an appeal tribunal constituted under Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the 1998 Order;

(d) duties undertaken in caring for another person who is accommodated with the claimant by virtue of arrangements made under any of the provisions referred to in paragraph 27 or 28 of Schedule 8 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) or where the claimant is in receipt of any payment specified in those paragraphs;

(e) any activity the claimant undertakes during an emergency to protect another person or to prevent serious damage to property or livestock; or

(f) any of the categories of work set out in regulation 45 (exempt work).

(3) This regulation is subject to regulation 46 (effect of work on entitlement to contributory allowance where claimant is receiving certain regular treatment).

(4) A claimant who does work to which this regulation applies in a week which is—

(a) the week in which the claimant first becomes entitled to a benefit, allowance or advantage on account of the claimant’s limited capability for work in any period; or

(b) the last week in any period in which the claimant has limited capability for work or is treated as having limited capability for work,

is to be treated as not entitled to an employment and support allowance by virtue of paragraph (1) only on the actual day or days in that week on which the claimant does that work.

(5) Regulation 145 (linking rules) does not apply for the purposes of calculating the beginning or end of any period of limited capability for work under paragraph (4).

(6) The day or days in a week on which a night worker works, for the purposes of paragraph (4), are to be calculated by reference to regulation 28 (night workers).

(7) In this regulation—

“week” means a week in respect of which a claimant is entitled to an employment and support allowance;

“work” means any work which a claimant does, whether or not that claimant undertakes it in expectation of payment;

“work as a councillor” is to be taken to include any work which a claimant undertakes as a member of a district council or any body of which the claimant is a member by reason of being a councillor.

Meaning of “remunerative work” for the purposes of paragraph 6(1)(e) of Schedule 1 to the Act

41

(1) For the purposes of paragraph 6(1)(e) of Schedule 1 to the Act (conditions of entitlement to an income-related allowance), “remunerative work” means any work which a claimant does for which payment is made or which is done in expectation of payment, other than work listed in regulation 40(2).

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), a claimant who was, or who was being treated as—

(a) engaged in remunerative work; and

(b) in respect of that work earnings to which regulation 95(1)(b) and (d) applies are paid,

is to be treated as being engaged in remunerative work for the period for which those earnings are taken into account in accordance with Part 10.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to earnings disregarded under paragraph 1 of Schedule 7 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings).

Meaning of “remunerative work” for the purposes of paragraph 6(1)(f) of Schedule 1 to the Act

42

(1) For the purposes of paragraph 6(1)(f) of Schedule 1 to the Act, (conditions of entitlement to an income-related allowance where a claimant must not be a member of a couple the other member of which is engaged in remunerative work), “remunerative work” means work in which the claimant’s partner is engaged or, where the partner’s hours of work fluctuate, the partner is engaged on average, for not less than 24 hours a week, being work for which payment is made or which is done in expectation of payment.

(2) In calculating the number of hours for which a claimant’s partner is engaged in work so as to determine whether that partner is engaged in remunerative work, the number of hours are to be determined in accordance with paragraphs (8) and (9) of regulation 45 and those paragraphs are to be read as though they referred to the claimant’s partner.

(3) The claimant’s partner is to be treated as engaged in remunerative work during any period for which that partner is absent from work referred to in paragraph (1) if the absence is either without good cause or by reason of a recognised, customary or other holiday.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), a claimant’s partner who was, or who was being treated as—

(a) engaged in remunerative work; and

(b) in respect of that work earnings to which regulation 95(1)(b) and (d) applies are paid,

is to be treated as being engaged in remunerative work for the period for which those earnings are taken into account in accordance with Part 10.

(5) Paragraph (4) does not apply to earnings disregarded under paragraph 1 of Schedule 7 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings).

(6) For the purposes of this regulation, in determining the number of hours in which a claimant’s partner is engaged or treated as engaged in remunerative work, no account is to be taken of any hours in which the claimant’s partner is engaged in an employment or a scheme to which regulation 43(1) or (2) applies.

43

(1) A claimant’s partner is not to be treated as engaged in remunerative work in so far as—

(a) the partner is engaged in child minding in the partner’s home;

(b) the partner is engaged by a charity or voluntary organisation, or is a volunteer, where the only payment received by the partner or due to be paid to the partner, is a payment which is to be disregarded under regulation 104(2) (calculation of income other than earnings) and paragraph 2 of Schedule 8 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings);

(d) the partner is receiving assistance under the self-employment route;

(e) the partner is engaged in employment as any one of the following—

(i) a part-time fire and rescue officer employed by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Board established under Article 3 of the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006[^f00065],

(ii) an auxiliary coastguard in respect of coast rescue activities,

(iii) a person engaged part-time in the manning or launching of a lifeboat,

(iv) a member of any ...reserve force prescribed in Part 1 of Schedule 1;

(f) the partner is undertaking work as a councillor;

(g) the partner is engaged in caring for a person who is accommodated with the partner by virtue of arrangements made under any of the provisions referred to in paragraph 27 or 28 of Schedule 8 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) and the partner is in receipt of any payment specified in that paragraph; or

(h) the partner is engaged in an activity in respect of which—

(i) a sports award has been made, or is to be made, to the partner, and

(ii) no other payment is made or is expected to be made to the partner.

(2) A claimant’s partner is not to be treated as engaged in remunerative work, where the partner is—

(a) a person who is mentally or physically disabled and by reason of that disability—

(i) the person’s earnings are reduced to 75 per cent. or less of what a person without that disability and working the same number of hours would reasonably be expected to earn in that employment or in comparable employment in the area, or

(ii) the person’s number of hours are 75 per cent. or less of what a person without that disability would reasonably be expected to undertake in that employment or in comparable employment in the area;

(b) subject to regulation 42(4) (partners treated as engaged in remunerative work), a person who would otherwise have satisfied section 125(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act[^f00066] (trade disputes) or in respect of whom section 123(1) of that Act[^f00067] (conditions of entitlement to income support) would otherwise have had effect as modified by section 126(b) of that Act[^f00068] (effect of return to work);

(c) a person who would otherwise satisfy the conditions set out in paragraph 4 of Schedule 1B to the Income Support Regulations[^f00069];

(d) a person who—

(i) is in employment,

(ii) lives in, or is temporarily absent from, a residential care home, a nursing home, an Abbeyfield Home or an independent hospital, and

(iii) requires personal care by reason of old age, disablement, past or present dependence on alcohol or drugs, past or present mental disorder or a terminal illness.

(3) The claimant’s partner is not to be treated as engaged in remunerative work on any day on which that partner is on maternity leave, paternity leave , shared parental leave , parental bereavement leave or adoption leave or is absent from work because the partner is ill.

(4) In this regulation—

“work as a councillor” has the meaning given by regulation 40;

“volunteer” means a person who is engaged in voluntary work otherwise than for a relative, where the only payment received or due to be paid to the person by virtue of being so engaged is in respect of any expenses reasonably incurred by the person in connection with that work.

Claimants who are treated as not entitled to any allowance at all by reason of regulation 40(1) are to be treated as not having limited capability for work

44

(1) Where a claimant is treated as not entitled to an employment and support allowance by reason of regulation 40(1), subject to paragraph (2), the claimant is to be treated as not having limited capability for work.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply where the claimant remains entitled to a contributory allowance, but is not entitled to an income-related allowance by reason of regulation 40(1).

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

(3) Paragraph (1) applies even if—

(a) it has been determined that the claimant has, or is to be treated as having, limited capability for work in accordance with regulation 20, 25, 26 or 29; or

(b) the claimant meets the conditions set out in regulation 30(2) for being treated as having limited capability for work until a determination is made in accordance with the limited capability for work assessment.

Exempt work

45

(1) The categories of work referred to in regulation 40(2)(f) are set out in the following paragraphs.

(2) Work for which the earnings in any week do not exceed £20∙00.

(3) Work for which the earnings in any week do not exceed subject to paragraph (9A), 16 times the national minimum wage and which—

(a) is part of the claimant’s treatment programme and is done under medical supervision while the claimant is an in-patient, or is regularly attending as an out-patient, of a hospital or similar institution; or

(b) is supervised by a person employed by a public authority or by a voluntary organisation or community interest company engaged in the provision or procurement of work for persons who have disabilities.

(4) Work which is done for less than 16 hours a week, for which earnings in any week do not exceed subject to paragraph (9A), 16 times the national minimum wage ...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) Work done in the course of receiving assistance in pursuing self-employed earner’s employment whilst participating in a programme provided or other arrangements made under section 1 of the Employment and Training Act[^f00070].

(6) Work done where the claimant receives no payment of earnings and where the claimant—

(a) is engaged by a charity or voluntary organisation; or

(b) is a volunteer,

where the Department is satisfied in any of those cases that it is reasonable for the claimant to provide the service free of charge.

(7) Work done in the course of participating in a work placement approved in writing by the Department for Employment and Learning (or a person providing services to that Department) before the placement starts.

(8) The number of hours for which a claimant is engaged in work is to be determined—

(a) where no recognisable cycle has been established in respect of a claimant’s work, by reference to the number of hours or, where those hours are likely to fluctuate, the average of the hours, which the claimant is expected to work in a week;

(b) where the number of hours for which the claimant is engaged fluctuate, by reference to the average of hours worked over—

(i) if there is a recognisable cycle of work, the period of one complete cycle (including, where the cycle involves periods in which the claimant does no work, those periods but disregarding any other absences),

(ii) in any other case, the period of 5 weeks immediately before the date of claim or the date on which a superseding decision is made under Article 11 of the 1998 Order[^f00071] (decisions superseding earlier decisions), or such other length of time as may, in the particular case, enable the claimant’s average hours of work to be determined more accurately.

(9) For the purposes of determining the number of hours for which a claimant is engaged in work, that number is to include any time allowed to that claimant by the claimant’s employer for a meal or for refreshment, but only where that claimant is, or expects to be, paid earnings in respect of that time.

(9A) Where the amount determined by the calculation in paragraphs (3) and (4) would, but for this paragraph, include an amount of—

(a) less than 50p, that amount shall be rounded up to the nearest 50p; or

(b) less than £1 but more than 50p, that amount shall be rounded up to the nearest £1.

(10) In this regulation—

...[^f00072]

“volunteer” has the meaning given by regulation 43;

“work placement” means practical work experience with an employer, which is neither paid nor undertaken in expectation of payment.

(11) For the purposes of this regulation, a period of specified work begins on the first day on which any specified work is undertaken and continues for a period of 52 weeks, whether or not any further specified work is undertaken during that period.

Effect of work on entitlement to contributory allowance where claimant is receiving certain regular treatment

46

Where a claimant who is entitled to a contributory allowance and is treated as having limited capability for work in accordance with regulation 26 works on any day during a week when the claimant is, in accordance with that regulation, receiving certain regular treatment or recovering from that treatment, that work is to have no effect on the claimant’s entitlement to the contributory allowance.

PART 8 — CONDITIONALITY

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Notification of assessment

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CHAPTER 2 — Work-focused interviews

Requirement to take part in a work-focused interview

54

(1) The Department may require a claimant who satisfies the requirements in paragraph (2) to take part in one or more work-focused interviews as a condition of continuing to be entitled to the full amount of employment and support allowance payable to the claimant.

(2) The requirements referred to in paragraph (1) are that the claimant—

(a) is either—

(i) entitled to an employment and support allowance, or

(ii) a person in respect of whom an award has been made under regulation 146(1) (advance awards);

(b) is not a member of the support group;

(d) is not only entitled to a contributory allowance payable at a nil rate; and

(e) is not a lone parent who is responsible for and a member of the same household as a child under one.

(3) Any requirement to take part in a work-focused interview ceases to have effect if the claimant ceases to satisfy the requirements in paragraph (2).

Work-focused interview

55

The purposes of a work-focused interview are any or all of the following—

(a) assessing the claimant’s prospects for remaining in or obtaining work;

(b) assisting or encouraging the claimant to remain in or obtain work;

(d) identifying training, educational or rehabilitation opportunities for the claimant which may make it more likely that the claimant will remain in or obtain work or be able to do so;

(e) identifying current or future work opportunities, including self-employment opportunities, for the claimant, that are relevant to the claimant’s needs and abilities.

Notification of interview

56

(1) The Department must notify the claimant of the requirement to take part in the work-focused interview including details of the date, time and if required to attend in person, the place of the interview.

(2) A work-focused interview may take place at a claimant’s home if it is determined that requiring the claimant to attend elsewhere would cause undue inconvenience to, or endanger the health of, the claimant.

(3) The notification referred to in paragraph (1) may be in writing or otherwise.

Taking part in a work-focused interview

57

(1) A claimant is regarded as having taken part in a work-focused interview if the claimant—

(a) if required to attend in person, attends for the interview at the place, date and time notified in accordance with regulation 56;

(aa) if not required to attend in person, is available and responds at the date and time notified in accordance with regulation 56 to any contact made at that time for the purpose of carrying out the interview;

(b) provides information, if requested by the Department, about any or all of the matters set out in paragraph (2);

(c) participates in discussions to the extent the Department considers necessary, about any or all of the matters set out in paragraph (3);

(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) The matters referred to in paragraph (1)(b) are—

(a) the claimant’s educational qualifications and vocational training;

(b) the claimant’s work history;

(d) the claimant’s skills that are relevant to work;

(e) the claimant’s work-related abilities;

(f) the claimant’s caring or childcare responsibilities; and

(g) any paid or unpaid work that the claimant is undertaking.

(3) The matters referred to in paragraph (1)(c) are—

(a) any activity the claimant is willing to undertake which may make remaining in or obtaining work more likely;

(b) any such activity that the claimant may have previously undertaken;

(d) any work-focused health-related assessment the claimant may have taken part in; and

(e) the claimant’s opinion as to the extent to which the ability to remain in or obtain work is restricted by the claimant’s physical or mental condition.

Action plan

58

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Deferral of requirement to take part in a work-focused interview

59

(1) A requirement to take part in a work-focused interview may be deferred or treated as having been deferred if at the time the work-focused interview is to take place, or was due to take place, such an interview would not at that time be or have been—

(a) of assistance to the claimant; or

(b) appropriate in the circumstances.

(2) A decision under paragraph (1) may be made at any time after the requirement to take part in the work-focused interview is imposed, including after the time that the work-focused interview was due to take place or took place.

(3) Where a requirement to take part in a work-focused interview is deferred, or treated as having been deferred, then the time that the work-focused interview is to take place must be re-determined.

Requirement to take part in a work-focused interview not to apply

60

The Department may determine that a requirement on a claimant to take part in a work-focused interview is not to apply, or is to be treated as not having applied, if that interview would not be, or would not have been, of assistance because the claimant is, or was likely to be, starting or returning to work.

Failure to take part in a work-focused interview

61

(1) A claimant who is required to take part in a work-focused interview but fails to do so must show good cause for that failure within 5 working days of the date on which the Department gives notification of that failure.

(2) The Department must determine whether a claimant who is required to take part in a work-focused interview has failed to do so and, if so, whether the claimant has shown good cause for that failure in accordance with paragraph (1).

(3) In deciding whether a person has shown good cause for the failure, the Department must take account of all the circumstances of the case including in particular the person’s physical or mental health or condition.

Contracting out certain functions relating to work-focused interviews

62

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

(2) The functions are any function under—

(a) regulation 54(1) (requirement to take part in a work-focused interview);

(b) regulation 56(1) and (2) (notification of interview);

(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(e) regulation 59(1) and (3) (deferral of requirement to take part in a work-focused interview);

(f) regulation 60 (requirement to take part in a work-focused interview not to apply).

CHAPTER 3 — Reduction of employment and support allowance

Reduction of employment and support allowance

63

(1) Where the Department has determined—

(a) that a claimant who was required to take part in a work-focused interview has failed to do so and has failed to show good cause for that failure in accordance with regulation 61; or

(b) that a claimant who was required to undertake work-related activity has failed to do so and has failed to show good cause for that failure in accordance with regulation 8 of the Employment and Support Allowance (Work-related Activity) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011,

(“a failure determination”), the amount of the employment and support allowance payable to the claimant is to be reduced in accordance with this regulation.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of the reduction in relation to each failure determination is 100 per cent. of the prescribed amount for a single claimant as set out in paragraph (1)(a) of Part 1 of Schedule 4.

(3) In any benefit week, the amount of an employment and support allowance payable to a claimant is not, by virtue of this regulation, to be reduced—

(a) below 10 pence;

(b) in relation to more than—

(i) one failure determination relating to work-related activity , and

(ii) one failure determination relating to a work-focused interview; and

(c) by more than 100 per cent. of the prescribed amount for a single claimant as set out in paragraph 1(a) of Part 1 of Schedule 4 in any circumstances.

(4) Where a claimant is entitled to both a contributory allowance and an income-related allowance, any reduction in the claimant’s allowance must first be applied to the part of that allowance treated as attributable to the claimant’s contributory allowance and only if there is any amount outstanding is it to be applied to the part of that allowance treated as attributable to the claimant’s income-related allowance.

(5) For the purposes of determining the amount of any income-related allowance payable, a claimant is to be treated as receiving the amount of any contributory allowance including new style ESA which would have been payable but for any reduction made in accordance with this regulation or section 11J of the Act respectively .

(6) Subject to paragraph (10), the reduction is to have effect for—

(a) one week for each 7 day period during which the claimant fails to meet a compliance condition; and

(b) a further fixed period determined in accordance with paragraph (7).

(7) The fixed period that applies in the circumstances described in the first column of the following table is set out in the second column.

Circumstances applicable to claimant’s case	Fixed period
Where there has been no previous failure by the claimant that falls within paragraph (8).	1 week
Where there have been one or more previous failures by the claimant that fall within paragraph (8) and the date of the most recent previous failure is not within 52 weeks beginning with and including the date of the current failure.	1 week
Where there have been one or more previous failures by the claimant that fall within paragraph (8) and the date of the most recent previous failure is within 52 weeks, but not within 2 weeks, beginning with and including the date of the current failure and the period of reduction applicable to the most recent previous failure is or, but for paragraph (3), would have been—
(a) 1 week	2 weeks
(b) 2 weeks	4 weeks
(c) 4 weeks.	4 weeks
Where there have been one or more previous failures by the claimant that fall within paragraph (8) and the date of the most recent previous failure is within 2 weeks beginning with and including the date of the current failure and the period of reduction applicable to the most recent previous failure is or, but for paragraph (3), would have been—
(a) 1 week	1 week
(b) 2 weeks	2 weeks	2 weeks
(c) 4 weeks.	4 weeks.

(8) A previous failure falls within this paragraph if—

(a) it relates to a failure for which a reduction was imposed under this regulation, or would have been but for paragraph (3) and ;

(b) that failure occurred on or after the date on which the Employment and Support Allowance (Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 come into operation ; ...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(9) This paragraph applies where the claimant meets a compliance condition before the end of the period of one week after the date of the failure to which the failure determination relates.

(10) Where paragraph (9) applies, the claimant’s employment and support allowance is reduced only for the fixed period set out in paragraph (7) applicable to the claimant.

(11) In this regulation—

“compliance condition” means—where the failure by the claimant relates to a requirement to take part in a work-focused interview, either—taking part in a work-focused interview, ormaking an agreement with the Department to take part in a work-focused interview at an agreed date;where the failure by the claimant relates to a requirement to undertake work-related activity, either—undertaking the activity specified in the action plan, orwhere so notified by the Department, undertaking an alternative activity, ormaking an agreement with the Department to undertake the activity referred to in paragraph (i) or (ii) at an agreed date;

“current failure” means a failure which may lead to a reduction under this regulation in relation to which the Department has not yet determined whether the amount of the employment and support allowance payable to the claimant is to be reduced in accordance with this regulation.

Cessation of reduction

64

(1) Any reduction imposed as a result of a failure determination which resulted from a failure to undertake work-related activity in accordance with the Employment and Support Allowance (Work-related Activity) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 ceases to have effect if—

(a) the claimant complies with a requirement to undertake the work-related activity specified in the action plan or, where permitted by the Department, an alternative activity;

(b) the claimant subsequently ceases to be subject to a requirement to undertake work-related activity; or

(c) the Department decides it is no longer appropriate to require the person to undertake work-related activity at that time.

(1A) The Department must notify the person in writing—

(a) where an alternative activity is permitted under paragraph (1)(a) by inclusion of that activity in the action plan; and

(b) of any decision under paragraph (1)(c).

(2) Any reduction imposed as a result of a failure determination which resulted from a failure to take part in a work-focused interview ceases to have effect if—

(a) the claimant complies with a requirement to take part in a work-focused interview; or

(b) the claimant subsequently ceases to meet the requirements set out in regulation 54(2).

CHAPTER 4 — Notification

Notification under this Part

65

(1) Where written notification is to be given in accordance with this Part, such notification may be sent by post.

(2) Any notification sent by post is to be taken to have been received on the second working day after posting.

CHAPTER 5 — Modification of the Act in relation to claims to which section 5(1)(c) of theAdministrationActapplies

Modifications of the Act

66

Where a person has made a claim for an employment and support allowance to which section 5(1)(c) of the Administration Act applies, the Act applies as if—

(a) in section 11(1)—

(i) for sub-paragraph (a) there were substituted—

(a) either— (i) entitled to an employment and support allowance, or (ii) a person who has made a claim for an employment and support allowance to which regulations under section 5(1)(c) of the Administration Act apply; and

, and

(ii) for “continuing to be” there were substituted “being”; and

(b) in section 12(1)—

(i) for sub-paragraph (a) there were substituted—

(a) either— (i) entitled to an employment and support allowance, or (ii) a person who has made a claim to which section 5 applies; and

, and

(ii) for “continuing to be” there were substituted “being”.

PART 9 — AMOUNTS OF ALLOWANCE

CHAPTER 1 — Prescribed amounts

Prescribed amounts

67

(1) Subject to regulations 68, 69 ... (polygamous marriages, special cases ...), the amounts prescribed for the purposes of the calculation of the amount of an income-related allowance under section 4(2)(a) of the Act in relation to a claimant are such of the following amounts as may apply in the claimant’s case—

(a) an amount in respect of the claimant or, if the claimant is a member of a couple, an amount in respect of both of them determined in accordance with paragraph 1(1), (2) or (3) of Schedule 4 (amounts) as the case may be;

(b) the amount of any premiums which may be applicable to the claimant determined in accordance with Parts 2 and 3 of that Schedule (premiums);

(c) any amounts determined in accordance with Schedule 6 (housing costs) which may be applicable to the claimant in respect of housing costs as prescribed in that Schedule.

(2) Subject to regulation 69, the amount prescribed for the purposes of the calculation of the amount of a claimant’s contributory allowance under section 2(1)(a) of the Act is the amount determined in accordance with paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 4 as may apply in the claimant’s case.

(3) Subject to regulation 69, the amount of the ...support component is prescribed in Part 4 of Schedule 4.

Polygamous marriages

68

(1) Subject to regulation 69 (special cases) , where a claimant is a husband or wife by virtue of a polygamous marriage the amounts prescribed for the purposes of the calculation of the amount of an income-related allowance under section 4(2)(a) of the Act are such of the following amounts as may apply in the claimant’s case—

(a) an amount in respect of the claimant and the other party to the marriage determined in accordance with paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 4;

(b) an amount equal to the difference between the amounts specified in paragraph 1(3)(a) (couple where both aged 18 and over) and 1(1)(b) (single claimant aged 25 and over) of Schedule 4 in respect of each spouse additional to the marriage;

(c) the amount of any premiums which are applicable to the claimant determined in accordance with Parts 2 and 3 of that Schedule (premiums);

(d) any amounts determined in accordance with Schedule 6 (housing costs) which may be applicable to the claimant in respect of housing costs as prescribed in that Schedule.

(2) In the case of a partner who is aged less than 18, the amount which applies in respect of that partner is nil unless—

(a) that partner is treated as responsible for a child; or

(b) that partner is a person who—

(i) had that partner not been a member of a polygamous marriage would have qualified for an income-related allowance,

(ii) satisfies the requirements of Article 5(1)(f)(iii) of the Jobseekers Order (prescribed circumstances for persons aged 16 but less than 18), or

(iii) is the subject of a direction under Article 18 of that Order[^f00073] (persons under 18: severe hardship).

Special cases

69

(1) In the case of a claimant to whom any paragraph in column (1) of Schedule 5 applies (amounts in special cases), the amount in respect of the claimant is to be the amount in the corresponding paragraph in column (2) of that Schedule.

(2) In Schedule 5—

“partner of a person subject to immigration control” means a person—who is not subject to immigration control within the meaning of section 115(9) of the Immigration and Asylum Act; orto whom section 115 of that Act does not apply by virtue of regulation 2 of the Social Security (Immigration and Asylum) Consequential Amendments Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000[^f00074]; andwho is a member of a couple and the member’s partner is subject to immigration control within the meaning of section 115(9) of that Act and section 115 of that Act applies to the partner for the purposes of exclusion from entitlement to an income-related allowance;

“patient” means a person (other than a prisoner) who is regarded as receiving free in-patient treatment within the meaning of regulation 2(4) and (5) of the Social Security (Hospital In-Patients) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005[^f00075];

“person from abroad” has the meaning given by regulation 70;

“person in hardship” means a person who satisfies regulation 158 but only for a period not exceeding 6 weeks;

“person serving a sentence of imprisonment detained in hospital” means a person who—is being detained under Article 53 of Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order1986 (removal to hospital of persons serving sentences of imprisonment etc.), andin any case where there is in relation to that person a release date within the meaning of Article 56(3) of that Order (further provisions as to prisoners under sentence), is being detained on or before the day which the Secretary of State certifies to be that release date;

“prisoner” means a person who—is detained in custody pending trial or sentence on conviction or under a sentence imposed by a court; oris on temporary release in accordance with the provisions of the Prison Act (Northern Ireland) 1953[^f00076],other than a person who is detained in hospital under the provisions of the Mental Health Order.

Special cases: supplemental – persons from abroad

70

(1) “Person from abroad” means, subject to the following provisions of this regulation, a claimant who is not habitually resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland.

(2) A claimant must not be treated as habitually resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland unless the claimant has a right to reside in (as the case may be) the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland other than a right to reside which falls within paragraph (3) or (3A) .

(3) A right to reside falls within this paragraph if it is one which exists by virtue of, or in accordance with, one or more of the following—

(a) regulation 13 of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 ;

(b) regulation 14 of those Regulations, but only in a case where the right exists under that regulation because the claimant is—

(i) a jobseeker for the purpose of the definition of “qualified person” in regulation 6(1) of those Regulations, or

(ii) a family member (within the meaning of regulation 7 of those Regulations) of such a jobseeker; or

(bb) regulation 16 of those Regulations, but only in a case where the right exists under that regulation because the claimant satisfies the criteria in paragraph (5) of that regulation;

(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3A) A right to reside falls within this paragraph if the right exists by virtue of a claimant having been granted limited leave to enter, or remain in, the United Kingdom under the Immigration Act 1971 by virtue of—

(a) Appendix EU to the immigration rules made under section 3(2) of that Act; ...

(b) being a person with a Zambrano right to reside as defined in Annex 1 of Appendix EU to the immigration rules made under section 3(2) of that Act; or

(c) having arrived in the United Kingdom with an entry clearance that was granted under Appendix EU (Family Permit) to the immigration rules made under section 3(2) of that Act.

(3B) Paragraph (3A)(a) does not apply to a person who —

(a) has a right to reside granted by virtue of being a family member of a relevant person of Northern Ireland; and

(b) would have a right to reside under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 if the relevant person of Northern Ireland were an EEA national, provided that the right to reside does not fall within paragraph (3).

(4) A claimant is not a person from abroad if the claimant is—

(zza) a person granted leave in accordance with the immigration rules made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971, where such leave is granted by virtue of—

(i) the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy; or

(ii) the previous scheme for locally-employed staff in Afghanistan (sometimes referred to as the ex-gratia scheme);

(zzb) a person in Northern Ireland not coming within sub-paragraph (zza) or (h) who left Afghanistan in connection with the collapse of the Afghan government that took place on 15th August 2021;

(zzc) a person in Northern Ireland who was residing in Ukraine immediately before 1st January 2022, left Ukraine in connection with the Russian invasion which took place on 24th February 2022 and—

(i) has been granted leave in accordance with immigration rules made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971, ...

(ii) has a right of abode in the United Kingdom within the meaning given in section 2 of that Act; or

(iii) does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom in accordance with section 3ZA of that Act;

(za) a qualified person for the purposes of regulation 6 of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 as a worker or a self-employed person;

(zzd) a person who was residing in Sudan before 15th April 2023, left Sudan in connection with the violence which rapidly escalated on 15th April 2023 in Khartoum and across Sudan and—

(i) has been granted leave in accordance with immigration rules made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971;

(ii) has a right of abode in the United Kingdom within the meaning given in section 2 of that Act; or

(iii) does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom in accordance with section 3ZA of that Act;

(zze) a person who was residing in Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Lebanon immediately before 7th October 2023, who left Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Lebanon in connection with the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on 7th October 2023 or the violence which rapidly escalated in the region following the attack and—

(i) has been granted leave in accordance with immigration rules made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971;

(ii) has a right of abode in the United Kingdom within the meaning given in section 2 of that Act; or

(iii) does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom in accordance with section 3ZA of that Act;

(zb) a family member of a person referred to in sub-paragraph (za)...;

(zc) a person who has a right to reside permanently in the United Kingdom by virtue of regulation 15(1)(c), (d) or (e) of those Regulations;

(zd) a family member of a relevant person of Northern Ireland with a right to reside which falls within paragraph (3A)(a), provided that the relevant person of Northern Ireland falls within sub-paragraph (za), or would do so but for the fact that they are not an EEA national.

(ze) a frontier worker within the meaning of regulation 3 of the Citizens' Rights (Frontier Workers) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020;

(zf) a family member of a person referred to in sub-paragraph (ze), who has been granted limited leave to enter, or remain in, the United Kingdom by virtue of Appendix EU to the immigration rules made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971;

(g) a refugee within the definition in Article 1 of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees done at Geneva on 28th July 1951[^f00081], as extended by Article 1(2) of the Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees done at New York on 31st January 1967[^f00082];

(h) a person who has been granted leave or who is deemed to have been granted leave outside the rules made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971 ...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(i) a person who has humanitarian protection granted under those rules; or

(j) a person who is not a person subject to immigration control within the meaning of section 115(9) of the Immigration and Asylum Act and who is in the United Kingdom as a result of deportation, expulsion or other removal by compulsion of law from another country to the United Kingdom; ...

(k) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(l) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) In this regulation—

“EEA national” has the same meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016;

“family member” has the same meaning given in regulation 7(1)(a), (b) or (c) of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016, except that regulation 7(4) of those Regulations does not apply for the purposes of paragraph (3B) and (4)(zd) of this regulation;

“relevant person of Northern Ireland” has the meaning given in Annex 1 of Appendix EU to the immigration rules made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971.

(6) References in this regulation to the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 are to be read with Schedule 4 to the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020(Consequential, Saving, Transitional and Transitory Provisions) Regulations 2020.

Definition of non-dependant

71

(1) In these Regulations, “non-dependant” means any person, except someone to whom paragraph (2), (3) or (4) applies, who normally resides with a claimant or with whom a claimant normally resides.

(2) This paragraph applies to—

(a) any member of the claimant’s family;

(b) a child or young person who is living with the claimant but who is not a member of the claimant’s household;

(c) a person who lives with the claimant in order to care for the claimant or for the claimant’s partner and who is engaged for that purpose by a charitable or voluntary organisation which makes a charge to the claimant or the claimant’s partner for the care provided by that person;

(d) the partner of a person to whom sub-paragraph (c) applies.

(3) This paragraph applies to a person, other than a close relative of the claimant or the claimant’s partner—

(a) who is liable to make payments on a commercial basis to the claimant or the claimant’s partner in respect of the person’s occupation of the claimant’s dwelling;

(b) to whom the claimant or the claimant’s partner is liable to make payments on a commercial basis in respect of the claimant’s occupation of that person’s dwelling;

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), this paragraph applies to—

(a) a person who jointly occupies the claimant’s dwelling and who is either—

(i) a co-owner of that dwelling with the claimant or the claimant’s partner (whether or not there are other co-owners), or

(ii) jointly liable with the claimant or the claimant’s partner to make payments to a landlord in respect of the person’s occupation of that dwelling;

(b) a partner of a person to whom sub-paragraph (a) applies.

(5) Where a person is a close relative of the claimant or the claimant’s partner, paragraph (4) applies to that person only if the claimant’s, or the claimant’s partner’s, co-ownership, or joint liability to make payments to a landlord in respect of occupation of the dwelling arose either before 11th April 1988 or, if later, on or before the date on which the claimant or the claimant’s partner first occupied the dwelling in question.

(6) For the purposes of this regulation a person resides with another only if they share any accommodation except a bathroom, a lavatory or a communal area but not if each person is separately liable to make payments in respect of occupation of the dwelling to the landlord.

(7) In this regulation “communal area” means any area (other than rooms) of common access (including halls and passageways) and rooms of common use in sheltered accommodation.

CHAPTER 2 — Deductions from the contributory allowance

Permanent health insurance

72

(1) For the purposes of sections 2(1)(c) and 3 of the Act (deductions from contributory allowance) pension payment is to include a permanent health insurance payment.

(2) In this regulation and regulation 75 “permanent health insurance payment” means any periodical payment arranged by an employer under an insurance policy providing benefits in connection with physical or mental illness or disability, in relation to a former employee on the termination of that person’s employment.

Councillor’s allowance

73

For the purposes of section 3(1)(c) of the Act—

(a) a councillor’s allowance is a payment of a prescribed description; and

(b) the prescribed bodies carrying out public or local functions are district councils.

Deductions for pension payment and PPF payment

74

(1) Where—

(a) a claimant is entitled to a contributory allowance in respect of any period of a week or part of a week;

(b) there is—

(i) a pension payment,

(ii) a PPF periodic payment, or

(iii) any combination of the payments specified in heads (i) and (ii),

payable to that person in respect of that period (or a period which forms part of that period or includes that period or part of it); and

(i) if the period in question is a week, £85∙00, or

(ii) if that period is not a week, such proportion of the amount mentioned in head (i) as falls to be calculated in accordance with regulation 94(1) or (6) (calculation of weekly amount of income),

the amount of that allowance is to be reduced by an amount equal to 50 per cent. of the excess.

(2) For the purposes of this Chapter “payment” means a payment referred to in paragraph (1)(b).

Payments treated as not being payments to which section 3 of the Act applies

75

The following payments are to be treated as not being payments to which section 3 of the Act applies—

(a) any pension payment made to a claimant as a beneficiary on the death of a member of any pension scheme;

(b) any PPF periodic payment made to a claimant as a beneficiary on the death of a person entitled to such a payment;

(c) where a pension scheme is in deficit or has insufficient resources to meet the full pension payment, the extent of the shortfall;

(d) any pension payment made under an instrument specified in section 639(2) of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003[^f00084];

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The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

Failure to provide information in relation to limited capability for work

22

Claimant may be called for a medical examination to determine whether the claimant has limited capability for work

23

Matters to be taken into account in determining good cause in relation to regulation 22 or 23

24

Hospital in-patients

25

Claimants receiving certain regular treatment

26

Claimant to be treated as having limited capability for work throughout a day

27

Night workers

28

Exceptional circumstances

29

Conditions for treating a claimant as having limited capability for work until a determination about limited capability for work has been made

30

Claimant who claims jobseeker’s allowance to be treated as not having limited capability for work

31

Certain claimants to be treated as not having limited capability for work

32

Additional circumstances where claimants are to be treated as having limited capability for work

33

PART 6 — LIMITED CAPABILITY FOR WORK-RELATED ACTIVITY

Determination of limited capability for work-related activity

34

Certain claimants to be treated as having limited capability for work-related activity

35

Information required for determining capability for work-related activity

36

Failure to provide information in relation to work-related activity

37

Claimant may be called for a medical examination to determine whether the claimant has limited capability for work-related activity

38

Matters to be taken into account in determining good cause in relation to regulation 37 or38

39

PART 7 — EFFECT OF WORK ON ENTITLEMENT TO AN EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE

A claimant who works to be treated as not entitled to an employment and support allowance

40

Meaning of “remunerative work” for the purposes of paragraph 6(1)(e) of Schedule 1 to the Act

41

Meaning of “remunerative work” for the purposes of paragraph 6(1)(f) of Schedule 1 to the Act

42

Circumstances under which partners of claimants entitled to an income-related allowance are not to be treated as engaged in remunerative work

43

Claimants who are treated as not entitled to any allowance at all by reason of regulation 40(1) are to be treated as not having limited capability for work

44

Exempt work

45

Effect of work on entitlement to contributory allowance where claimant is receiving certain regular treatment

46

PART 8 — CONDITIONALITY

CHAPTER 1 — Work-focused health-related assessment

Requirement to take part in a work-focused health-related assessment

47

Work-focused health-related assessment

48

Notification of assessment

49

Determination of the place of the work-focused health-related assessment

50

Taking part in a work-focused health-related assessment

51

Deferral of requirement to take part in a work-focused health-related assessment

52

Failure to take part in a work-focused health-related assessment

53

CHAPTER 2 — Work-focused interviews

Requirement to take part in a work-focused interview

54

Work-focused interview

55

Notification of interview

56

Taking part in a work-focused interview

57

Action plan

58