Article 12 Variation of jobseeker's agreement
Northern Ireland
A jobseeker's agreement may be varied, in the prescribed manner, by agreement between the claimant and any employment officer.
Any agreement to vary a jobseeker's agreement shall be in writing and be signed by both parties.
Any agreement to vary a jobseeker's agreement may be in electronic form and signed by means of an electronic signature (within the meaning given in section 7(2) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000).
A copy of the agreement, as varied, shall be given to the claimant.
An employment officer shall not agree to a variation of a jobseeker's agreement, unless, in the officer's opinion, the conditions mentioned in Article 3(2)(a) and (c) would continue to be satisfied with respect to the claimant if he were to comply with, or be treated as complying with, the agreement as proposed to be varied.
The employment officer may, and if asked to do so by the claimant shall forthwith, refer a proposed variation of a jobseeker's agreement toF3 an adjudication officer for him to determine—
whether, if the claimant concerned were to comply with the agreement as proposed to be varied, he would satisfy—
the condition mentioned in Article 3(2)(a), or
the condition mentioned in Article 3(2)(c); and
whether it is reasonable to expect the claimant to have to comply with the agreement as proposed to be varied.
An adjudication officer to whom a reference is made under paragraph (5)—
shall so far as practicable dispose of it in accordance with this Article before the end of the period of 14 days from the date of the reference;
shall give such directions as he considers appropriate as to—
whether the jobseeker's agreement should be varied, and
if so, the terms on which the claimant and the employment officer are to enter into an agreement to vary it;
may bring the jobseeker's agreement to an end where the claimant fails, within a prescribed period, to comply with a direction given under sub-paragraph (b)(ii);
may direct that, if—
the jobseeker's agreement is varied, and
such conditions as he considers appropriate are satisfied,
the agreement as varied is to be treated as having effect on such date, before it would otherwise have effect, as may be specified in the direction.
Regulations may provide—
or such matters as may be prescribed to be taken into account by an adjudication officer in giving a direction under paragraph (6)(b) or (d); and
for such persons as may be prescribed to be notified of—
any determination of an adjudication officer under this Article;
any direction given by an adjudication officer under this Article.
Any determination of an adjudication officer under this Article shall be binding.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Arts. 8-8M and cross-heading substituted (2.5.2016 for specified purposes, 27.9.2017 for specified purposes and subsequently on the days on which and for the purposes for which "the amending provisions" are brought into force by secondary legislation) for arts. 8-12 and cross-heading by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), arts. 2(2), 55(4); S.R. 2016/215, art. 2(3)(a)(iii); S.R. 2017/190, art. 9 (with arts. 10-25)
- F2
Art. 12(2A) inserted (1.2.2012) by Social Security (Electronic Communications) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (S.R. 2011/298), arts. 1, 3(3)
- F3
prosp. in pt. subst. by 1998 NI 10
- F4
prosp. in pt. rep. by 1998 NI 10
Notes on the whole Order
Textual amendments
- F1
functions transf. by SR 1999/481
- F2
mod. by SR 1999/350
Notes on Work-related requirements
Textual amendments
- F1
Arts. 8-8M and cross-heading substituted (2.5.2016 for specified purposes, 27.9.2017 for specified purposes and subsequently on the days on which and for the purposes for which "the amending provisions" are brought into force by secondary legislation) for arts. 8-12 and cross-heading by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), arts. 2(2), 55(4); S.R. 2016/215, art. 2(3)(a)(iii); S.R. 2017/190, art. 9 (with arts. 10-25)