Regulation 7 Good cause

(1)

Matters to be taken into account by the Department in determining whether a person has shown good cause for failing to undertake work-related activity for the purposes of regulation 6(2) include that—

(a)

the person misunderstood the requirement to undertake work-related activity due to any learning, language or literacy difficulties of the person or any misleading information given to the person by the Department;

(b)

the person was attending a medical or dental appointment, or accompanying someone for whom they have caring responsibilities to such an appointment, and it would have been unreasonable, in the circumstances, for the person to undertake work-related activity;

(c)

the person had difficulties with their normal mode of transport and that no reasonable alternative was available;

(d)

the established customs and practices of the religion to which the person belongs prevented the person undertaking work-related activity on that day or at that time;

(e)

the person was attending an interview with an employer with a view to obtaining employment;

(f)

the person was pursuing employment opportunities as a self-employed earner;

(g)

the person, a dependant of the person or someone for whom the person provides care suffered an accident, sudden illness or relapse of a physical or mental health condition;

(h)

the person was attending the funeral of a close friend or relative on the day fixed for the work-related activity;

(i)

a disability from which the person suffers made it impracticable to attend at the time fixed for the work-related activity;

(j)

childcare for a child who is a member of the person’s household and for whom the person is responsible was not available on the day or at the time fixed for the work-related activity.

(2)

In this regulation the term “self-employed earner” has the meaning set out in regulation 2(1) of the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987.