# The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008, Regulation 7: Failure to take part in a work-focused interview

Extent: N.I.

(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.
(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—
(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;
(b) that the relevant claimant had transport difficulties and that no reasonable alternative was available;
(c) that the relevant claimant was attending an interview with an employer with a view to remaining in or obtaining employment;
(d) that the relevant claimant was pursuing employment opportunities as a self-employed earner;
(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;
(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;
(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;
(h) that the relevant claimant was attending the funeral of a relative or close friend on the day fixed for the work-focused interview;
(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;
(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;
(k) any other matter which the designated authority considers appropriate.
(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).

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2008/465/regulation/7 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-incapacity-benefit-work-focused-interviews-regulations-northern-ireland-2008/regulation-7
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.