The Employment and Support Allowance (Duration of Contributory Allowance) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2012

• Citation: S.I. 2012/913
• Sections: 10

Section 1 Citation and commencement

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Employment and Support Allowance (Duration of Contributory Allowance) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2012.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 1st May 2012.

Section 2 Amendment to the Social Security (Credits) Regulations 1975

After regulation 8B(2)(a)(iv) of the Social Security (Credits) Regulations 1975 (credits for incapacity for work or limited capability for work) insert—

(iva) would have been a day of limited capability for work for the purposes of Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act (limited capability for work) where the person concerned would have been entitled to an employment and support allowance but for the application of section 1A of that Act; or

Section 3 Amendments to the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987

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

(2) In regulation 13(3)(b)(iv) (circumstances in which persons in relevant education are to be entitled to income support) after “support component” insert “or who would be entitled to an employment and support allowance including a work-related activity component but for the application of section 1A of the Welfare Reform Act (duration of contributory allowance)”.

(3) For paragraph 1(3)(d) of Schedule 3 (housing costs) substitute—

(d) who–

(i) is in receipt of an employment and support allowance which includes an amount under section 2(2) or (3) or 4(4) or (5) of the Welfare Reform Act (components); or

(ii) would be entitled to an employment and support allowance including an amount of a work-related activity component under section 2(3) of that Act (amount of contributory allowance: work-related activity component), but for the application of section 1A of that Act (duration of contributory allowance).

Section 4 Amendment to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

For paragraph 1(3)(e) of Schedule 2 to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (housing costs) substitute—

(e) who–

(i) is in receipt of an employment and support allowance which includes an amount under section 2(2) or (3) or 4(4) or (5) of the Welfare Reform Act (components); or

(ii) would be entitled to an employment and support allowance including an amount of a work-related activity component under section 2(3) of that Act (amount of contributory allowance: work-related activity component), but for the application of section 1A of that Act (duration of contributory allowance).

Section 5 Amendment to the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 1999

After regulation 3(5H) of the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 1999 (revision of decisions) insert—

(5I) Where—

(a) a decision to terminate a person’s entitlement to a contributory employment and support allowance is made because of section 1A of the Welfare Reform Act (duration of contributory allowance); and

(b) it is subsequently determined, in relation to the period of entitlement before that decision, that the person had or is treated as having had limited capability for work-related activity,

the decision to terminate that entitlement may be revised.

Section 6 Amendment to the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002

In paragraph 1(2)(a)(iii)(dd) of Schedule II to the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 (housing costs) after “(components)” insert “or would be entitled to an employment and support allowance including an amount of a work-related activity component under section 2(3) of that Act (amount of contributory allowance: work-related activity component), but for the application of section 1A of that Act (duration of contributory allowance)”.

Section 7 Amendment to the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006

(1) In Schedule 3 to the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 (applicable amounts), after “converted employment and support allowance” where it appears in the paragraphs mentioned in paragraph (2), insert “, or would be entitled but for the application of section 1A of the Welfare Reform Act (duration of contributory allowance)”.

(2) The paragraphs are—

(a) 1A(b) (personal allowances);

(b) 21A (the components); and

(c) 27(1)(a) (transitional addition).

Section 8 Amendment to the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006

(1) In Schedule 1 to the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 (applicable amounts), after “converted employment and support allowance” where it appears in the paragraphs mentioned in paragraph (2), insert “, or would be entitled but for the application of section 1A of the Welfare Reform Act (duration of contributory allowance)”.

(2) The paragraphs are—

(a) 1A(b) (personal allowances);

(b) 21A (the components); and

(c) 27(1)(a) (transitional addition).

Section 9 Amendments to the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008

(1) The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 7 (circumstances where the condition that the assessment phase has ended before entitlement to the support component or the work-related activity component arises does not apply)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(b) omit “or” where it appears at the end of that paragraph; and

(b) after paragraph (1)(c) add–

; or

(d) a claimant is entitled to an employment and support allowance by virtue of section 1B of the Act (further entitlement after time-limiting).

(3) In regulation 144 (waiting days) after paragraph (2)(d) add–

; or

(e) the claimant is entitled to an employment and support allowance by virtue of section 1B of the Act (further entitlement after time-limiting).

(4) For paragraph 1(3)(a) of Schedule 6 (housing costs) substitute—

(a)

(i) in respect of whom the main phase employment and support allowance is payable to the claimant or to a person living with the claimant; or

(ii) where they are the claimant or a person living with the claimant, in respect of whom there would be entitlement to an employment and support allowance including a work-related activity component under section 2(3) of the Act (amount of contributory allowance: work-related activity component), but for the application of section 1A of the Act (duration of contributory allowance);

Section 10 Amendments to the Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) ( No. 2) Regulations 2010

(1) The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No. 2) Regulations 2010 are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 7 (qualifying for conversion)—

(a) in paragraph (1) for “paragraph (2)” substitute “paragraphs (2) and (3)”; and

(b) after paragraph (2) add–

(3) Where P would be entitled to an award of an employment and support allowance under the 2007 Act but for the application of section 1A of that Act (duration of contributory allowance) and it had been determined in respect of the entitlement that had ceased that P—

(a) had limited capability for work; or

(b) was to be treated as having limited capability for work, other than by virtue of regulation 30 of the 2008 Regulations,

in relation to the conversion of P’s existing award, P is to be taken as having satisfied the condition set out in section 1(3)(a) of the 2007 Act (limited capability for work).

(3) In regulation 21 (termination of transitional addition)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(b) after “(3)” insert “, (3A)”;

(b) after paragraph (3) insert–

(3A) Any termination of T’s entitlement to a transitional addition under regulation 10(2)(a) (transitional addition: incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance) shall instead have effect as a suspension of that entitlement in Case 1A.

(c) after paragraph (5) insert–

(5A) Case 1A is where—

(a) T was previously entitled to a contributory allowance;

(b) entitlement to that previous allowance terminated by virtue of section 1A of the 2007 Act (duration of contributory allowance);

(c) on a subsequent claim made by T for an employment and support allowance, a period of limited capability for work is treated under regulation 145(1) of the 2008 Regulations (linking rules) as a continuation of an earlier period of limited capability for work; and

(d) it is determined in relation to the subsequent claim that T has, or is treated as having, limited capability for work-related activity.

(d) in paragraph (7) after “Cases 1” insert “, 1A”.

(4) In Schedule 2 (modification of enactments: after the conversion phase) after paragraph 2 insert—

(2A)

(1) In relation to awards of an employment and support allowance to persons previously entitled to existing awards, the application of section 1A (duration of contributory allowance) is modified in accordance with sub-paragraph (2).

(2) Section 1A is to be read as if there were substituted—

(1A)

(1) The period for which a person is entitled to a contributory allowance shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the relevant maximum number of days in any period for which his entitlement is established by virtue of the Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No. 2) Regulations 2010.

(2) In subsection (1) the “relevant maximum number of days” is–

(a) 365 days, or

(b) if the Secretary of State by order specifies a greater number of days, that number of days.

(3) The fact that a person’s entitlement to a contributory allowance has ceased as a result of subsection (1) does not prevent his being entitled to a further allowance if he satisfies the first and second conditions set out in Part 1 of Schedule 1.

(4) In calculating for the purposes of subsection (1) the length of the period for which a person is entitled to a contributory allowance, the following are not to be counted–

(a) days in which the person is a member of the support group, and

(b) days not falling within paragraph (a) in respect of which the person is entitled to the support component referred to in section 2(1)(b).

(5) In calculating for the purposes of subsection (1) the length of the period for which a person is entitled to a contributory allowance, days occurring before the coming into force of this section are to be counted (as well as those occurring afterwards).