Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (“the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations”).

In particular, they prescribe the “Core Gateway” course as an employment programme for the purposes of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations. The effect of this is that if a person, without good cause, refuses or fails to participate in that programme, or loses his place on it through misconduct, his jobseeker’s allowance will not be payable for a prescribed period. These regulations set that period at two weeks, regardless of whether the person has already been sanctioned in the past year or not.

These Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Social Security in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.