The Social Security (Jobseeker’s Allowance and Mariners' Benefits) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1997

• Citation: S.I. 1997/563
• Sections: 6

Section 1 Citation, commencement and interpretation

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Jobseeker’s Allowance and Mariners' Benefits) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1997 and shall come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

(2) In these Regulations, “the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations ” means the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 .

Section 2 Circumstances in which a person is to be treated as available for employment

(1) Regulation 14 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (1), for the words “to whom regulation 15 applies,” there shall be substituted the words “to whom regulation 15(a), (b) or (c) applies,”.

(3) For paragraph (1)(i) substitute—

(i) if the period beginning on the date of claim and ending on the day before the beginning of the first week after the date of claim is less than 7 days and the circumstances in paragraph (2A) apply, for any part of that period when he is not treated as available for employment under any other provision of this regulation;

(4) After paragraph (2) there shall be inserted the following paragraph—

(2A) A person shall be treated as available for employment under paragraph (1)(i) only if—

(a) where a pattern of availability is recorded in his jobseeker’s agreement, or where he has restricted the hours for which he is available in accordance with regulations 13(3) or (4) or 17(2) and that restriction has been agreed with an employment officer, he is available for employment during such of the period referred to in paragraph (1)(i) as he is not treated as available for employment under any other provision of this regulation, in accordance with—

(i) his pattern of availability or, as the case may be, the hours to which he has restricted his availability in accordance with regulations 13(3) or (4) or 17(2), and

(ii) any other restrictions he has placed on his availability for employment which will apply in the first week after the date of claim, provided those restrictions have been agreed with an employment officer, and

(iii) if he falls within regulation 5, that regulation;

(b) where no pattern of availability is recorded in his jobseeker’s agreement, he is available for employment during such of the period referred to in paragraph (1)(i) as he is not treated as available for employment under any other provision of this regulation—

(i) in accordance with any restrictions he has placed on his availability for employment which will apply in the first week after the date of claim, provided those restrictions have been agreed with an employment officer, and

(ii) for 8 hours on each day falling within that period on which he is not treated as available for employment to any extent under any other provision of this regulation, and

(iii) if he falls within regulation 5, in accordance with that regulation.

Section 3 Circumstances in which a person is not to be regarded as available for employment

In regulation 15 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations, after paragraph (b) there shall be inserted the following paragraph—

(bb) if the period beginning on the date of claim and ending on the day before the beginning of the first week after the date of claim is less than 7 days, for that period, unless he is treated as available for employment for that period in accordance with regulation 14;

Section 4 Actively seeking employment in the period at the beginning of a claim

After regulation 18 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations there shall be inserted the following regulation:

Actively seeking employment in the period at the beginning of a claim

(18A)

(1) Paragraph (2) applies in any case where the period beginning on the date of claim and ending on the day before the beginning of the first week after the date of claim is less than 7 days.

(2) Where this paragraph applies, a person is actively seeking employment in the period referred to in paragraph (1) if he takes in that period such steps as he can reasonably be expected to have to take in order to have the best prospects of securing employment and in determining whether a person has taken such steps—

(a) the steps which it is reasonable for him to be expected to have to take include those referred to in regulation 18(2); and

(b) regard shall be had to all the circumstances of the case, including those matters referred to in regulation 18(3).

Section 5 Circumstances in which a person is to be treated as actively seeking employment

Sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (1) of regulation 19 of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations shall be omitted.

Section 6 Special provisions relating to days of unemployment in the case of mariners

Regulation 6(3) of the Social Security (Mariners' Benefits) Regulations 1975 is hereby revoked.