# The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Hardship) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017

S.R. 2017/185 · made 11 September 2017

Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 198).

Made under: The Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (Article 2, Article 21C, Article 36, Schedule 1 paragraph 10)

PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/jobseekers-allowance-hardship-amendment-regulations-northern-ireland-2017/pdf/nisr_20170185_en.pdf; NI Explanatory Memorandum https://openlegislation.uk/jobseekers-allowance-hardship-amendment-regulations-northern-ireland-2017/pdf/nisrem_20170185_en.pdf

## Introductory text

Social Security
Made 11th September 2017
Laid before Parliament 13th September 2017
Coming into operation 25th October 2017
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 2(2), 21C(1), (2)(a) and (e) and 36(2) of, and paragraph 10(1) and (2) of Schedule 1 to, the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.
Those powers are exercisable by the Secretary of State by virtue of Article 4(1)(b) of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015.

## 1 Citation and Commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Jobseeker’s Allowance (Hardship) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 and come into operation on 25th October 2017.

## 2 Amendment of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

(1) The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).
(2) In regulation 140(1) (meaning of “person in hardship”)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (g) after “physical” insert “or mental”;
(b) in sub-paragraph (j)(ii) for “hardship.” substitute “hardship; or”;
(c) at the end of sub-paragraph (k) insert “; or”;
(d) after sub-paragraph (k) add—
“(l) is a person who is homeless within the meaning of Article 3 of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988”.
(3) In regulation 141(2) (circumstances in which an income-based jobseeker’s allowance is payable to a person in hardship) for “Article 3(2)(d)(ii)” substitute “Article 3(2A)(b)”.
(4) In regulation 146A(1) (meaning of “couple in hardship”)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (d) after “physical” insert “or mental”;
(b) at the end of sub-paragraph (g) for “, or” substitute “; or”;
(c) at the end of sub-paragraph (h) insert “; or”;
(d) after sub-paragraph (h) add—
“(i) either member of the couple is a person who is homeless within the meaning of Article 3 of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988.”.

## Signature

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Damian Hinds
Minister of State
Department for Work and Pensions
11th September 2017

## Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)
Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 198).
The amendments in paragraph (2)(a) and (d) provide that a person with a long-term mental impairment, or who is homeless within the meaning of legislation applying in Northern Ireland, is a person in hardship for the purposes of these Regulations. This means that the person may receive immediate hardship payments of jobseeker’s allowance in cases where that allowance would otherwise not be paid or the amount paid is being reduced.
The amendments in paragraph (4)(a) and (d) make identical provision in relation to a couple claiming jobseeker’s allowance where either member of the couple has a mental impairment or is homeless.
Paragraphs (2)(c) and (4)(c) make consequential amendments and paragraphs (2)(b), (3) and (4)(b) make previously missed consequential amendments.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2017/185 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/jobseekers-allowance-hardship-amendment-regulations-northern-ireland-2017
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.