# The Jobseeker’s Allowance (18-21 Work Skills Pilot Scheme) Regulations 2014, Note: Explanatory note (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations establish a pilot scheme, known as the 18-21 Work Skills Pilot Scheme (“the Scheme”), under the Jobseekers Act 1995 (“the Jobseekers Act”). The Scheme, which is prescribed in regulation 3, is a scheme within section 17A(1) of the Jobseekers Act that is designed to assist 18-21 year old jobseeker’s allowance claimants to obtain employment by supporting them to develop their English or Maths (or both) skills (Phase One) or by supporting them to undertake skills training or work-related activity, such as work experience (Phase Two). Failure to participate in the Scheme, without good reason for such failure, will attract the imposition of sanctions under section 19A of the Jobseekers Act. Part 1 contains general provisions, including provisions concerning interpretation and the prescription of the Scheme which consists of two separate phases. Part 2 concerns the circumstances in which jobseeker’s allowance claimants are required to participate in Phase One of the Scheme. Regulation 4 provides that the Secretary of State can select claimants who meet certain conditions for participation in Phase One of the Scheme on a sampling basis. In particular, the claimant must be aged from 18 up to and including 21 years old, be registered at a Jobcentre located in a pilot area and have not provided evidence of a Level 2 qualification in English or Maths (or both). The pilot areas are set out in regulation 2, as is the definition of a Level 2 qualification. Regulation 5 requires a claimant selected under regulation 4 to participate in Phase One of the Scheme – including an assessment with the Scheme provider to assess their level of skills in English or Maths (or both) - upon being notified by the Secretary of State and it also sets out the content of that initial notification. Regulation 6 requires a claimant who has been assessed in accordance with Regulation 5 or Regulation 8 to attend skills training in English or Maths (or both) and to participate in further assessments, if appropriate, upon being notified by the Secretary of State and it also sets out the content of that notification. Regulation 7 sets out the circumstances in which a requirement to participate in Phase One of the Scheme is suspended. It also sets out the circumstances in which a requirement to participate in Phase One of the Scheme ceases: these include where the Secretary of State gives the claimant notice in writing that his or her participation is no longer required or a claimant’s award of a jobseeker’s allowance terminates. Regulation 8 provides for a claimant who has been selected to participate in Phase One of the Scheme and whose requirement to participate has subsequently ceased - either because the Secretary of State has notified them that their participation was no longer required or because they are no longer entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance - to be required to recommence their participation in Phase One of the Scheme upon notification by the Secretary of State. It also sets out the content of that notification. Part 3 concerns the circumstances in which jobseeker’s allowance claimants are required to participate in Phase Two of the Scheme. Regulation 9 provides that the Secretary of State can select claimants who meet certain conditions for participation in Phase Two of the Scheme. In particular, the claimant must be aged 18 up to and including 21 years old, have been in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance for 6 months or longer and be registered at a Jobcentre Plus office located in the pilot area. The pilot areas are set out in regulation 2. Regulation 10 requires a claimant selected under regulation 9 to participate in Phase Two of the Scheme upon being notified by the Secretary of State and it also sets out the content of that initial notification. Regulation 11 requires a claimant who has been selected under regulation 9 and notified under Regulation 10 to undertake work-related activity or skills training upon being notified by the Secretary of State. The notification issued under Regulation 11 will contain the details of what the claimant is required to do by way of participation in Phase Two of the Scheme; this will have been determined following a discussion between the claimant and a Work Coach to determine what is the appropriate skills training or work-related activity for the claimant to undertake. Regulation 12 sets out the circumstances in which a requirement to participate in Phase Two of the Scheme is suspended. It also sets out the circumstances in which requirement to participate in Phase Two of the Scheme ceases: these include where the Secretary of State gives the claimant notice in writing that his or her participation is no longer required or a claimant’s award of a jobseeker’s allowance terminates. Regulation 13 provides for a claimant who has been selected to participate in Phase Two of the Scheme and whose requirement to participate has subsequently ceased - either because the Secretary of State notified them that their participation was no longer required or because they are no longer entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance - to be required to recommence participation in it upon notification by the Secretary of State. It also sets out the content of that notification. Part 4 sets out the circumstances in which a claimant participating in the Scheme is not required to meet the jobseeking conditions. Part 5 makes various consequential amendments to other regulations in relation to a claimant’s participation in the Scheme. Regulations 15 and 16 ensure that claimants will not be treated as having notional income or notional capital by virtue of their participation in the Scheme prescribed in regulation 3 for the purposes of housing benefit, housing renewal grants and jobseeker’s allowance. Regulations 17 and 18 provide that travel and other expenses paid to claimants are disregarded as income and capital for the purposes of housing benefit, housing renewal grants and jobseeker’s allowance. Regulation 19 makes a consequential amendment to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996. Part 6 makes provision for contracting out certain functions of the Secretary of State for the purposes of the Scheme. An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on business and civil society organisations. This instrument has no impact on the public sector. --- Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2014/9780111121368/note (the official version) Page: https://openlegislation.uk/draft-jobseekers-allowance-18-21-work-skills-pilot-scheme-regulations-2014/note Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.