{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-incapacity-benefit-work-focused-interviews-regulations-northern-ireland-2008/regulation-7",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-incapacity-benefit-work-focused-interviews-regulations-northern-ireland-2008/regulation-7.json",
  "legislation": "nisr/2008/465",
  "legislation_title": "The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-incapacity-benefit-work-focused-interviews-regulations-northern-ireland-2008",
  "path": "regulation/7",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "7",
  "heading": "Failure to take part in a work-focused interview",
  "text": "(1) A relevant claimant who is required to take part in a work-focused interview but fails to do so must show good cause for that failure within 5 working days of the date on which the designated authority gives notification of that failure.\n(2) In determining whether a relevant claimant has shown good cause for a failure to take part in a work-focused interview, the matters to be taken into account include—\n(a) that the relevant claimant misunderstood the requirement to take part in the work-focused interview due to any learning, language or literacy difficulties of the relevant claimant or any misleading information given to the relevant claimant by the designated authority;\n(b) that the relevant claimant had transport difficulties and that no reasonable alternative was available;\n(c) that the relevant claimant was attending an interview with an employer with a view to remaining in or obtaining employment;\n(d) that the relevant claimant was pursuing employment opportunities as a self-employed earner;\n(e) that the relevant claimant was attending a medical or dental appointment and that it would have been unreasonable in the circumstances to re-arrange the appointment;\n(f) that the relevant claimant was accompanying another person for whom the claimant has caring responsibilities to a medical or dental appointment and that it would have been unreasonable for that other person to re-arrange the appointment;\n(g) that the relevant claimant, a dependant or another person for whom the relevant claimant provides care suffered an accident, sudden illness or relapse of a physical or mental health condition;\n(h) that the relevant claimant was attending the funeral of a relative or close friend on the day fixed for the work-focused interview;\n(i) that the physical or mental condition of the relevant claimant made it impracticable to attend at the time and place fixed for the work-focused interview;\n(j) that the established customs and practices of the religion to which the relevant claimant belongs prevented attendance on the day or at the time fixed for the work-focused interview;\n(k) any other matter which the designated authority considers appropriate.\n(3) If the designated authority determines that a relevant claimant has failed to take part in a work-focused interview and the claimant has not shown good cause in accordance with paragraph (1) , the designated authority shall make a relevant decision for the purposes of section 2B of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (supplementary provisions relating to work-focused interviews).",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in reg. 7(3) substituted (26.10.2009) by The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/327), regs. 1(1), 2(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Reg. 7 in operation at 15.12.2008, see reg. 1(1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2008/465/regulation/7",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T01:34:05.781275+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}