Regulation 3 Amendment of the Quarterly Lone Parents Regulations

The Quarterly Lone Parents Regulations shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

In the definition of “relevant person” in regulation 1(3), after “the age of 60;” there shall be inserted—

“and

(c)

who—

(i)

is not required to take part in an interview under regulation 2A of the Social Security (Work-focused Interviews for Lone Parents) and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2000; or

(ii)

has not had such a requirement waived or deferred under regulations 5 or 6 of those Regulations;”.

For regulation 6(2) (taking part in an interview), there shall be substituted—

“(2)

A relevant person who has not taken part in an interview under these Regulations before 31st October 2005 shall be regarded as having taken part in his first interview under these Regulations if—

(a)

he attends for the interview at the place and time notified to him by the officer;

(b)

he participates in discussions with the officer in relation to the relevant person’s employability, including any action the relevant person and the officer agree is reasonable and they are willing to take in order to help the relevant person enhance his employment prospects;

(c)

he provides answers (where asked) to questions and appropriate information about—

(i)

the level to which he has pursued any educational qualifications;

(ii)

his employment history;

(iii)

any vocational training he has undertaken;

(iv)

any skills he has acquired which fit him for employment;

(v)

any paid or unpaid employment he is engaged in;

(vi)

any medical condition which, in his opinion, puts him at a disadvantage in obtaining employment;

(vii)

any caring or childcare responsibilities he has;

(viii)

his aspirations for future employment;

(ix)

any vocational training or skills which he wishes to undertake or acquire; and

(x)

his work related abilities; and

(d)

he assists the officer in the completion of an action plan which records the matters discussed in relation to sub-paragraph (b) above.

(2A)

A relevant person who has taken part in an interview under these Regulations before 31st October 2005 shall be regarded as having taken part in his first interview under these Regulations after 30th October 2005 if—

(a)

he attends for the interview at the place and time notified to him by the officer;

(b)

he participates in discussions with the officer in relation to the relevant person’s employability, including any action the relevant person and the officer agree is reasonable and they are willing to take in order to help the relevant person enhance his employment prospects;

(c)

he participates in discussions with the officer—

(i)

in relation to the relevant person’s employability or any progress he might have made towards obtaining employment; and

(ii)

in order to consider any of the programmes and support available to help the relevant person obtain employment;

(d)

he provides answers (where asked) to questions and appropriate information about—

(i)

the content of any report made following his personal capability assessment, insofar as that report relates to the relevant person’s capabilities and employability; and

(ii)

his opinion as to the extent to which his medical condition restricts his ability to obtain employment; and

(e)

he assists the officer in the completion of an action plan which records the matters discussed in relation to sub-paragraph (b) above.

(2B)

A relevant person shall be regarded as having taken part in any subsequent interview under these Regulations if—

(a)

he attends for the interview at the place and time notified to him by the officer;

(b)

he participates in discussions with the officer—

(i)

in relation to the relevant person’s employability or any progress he might have made towards obtaining employment;

(ii)

about any action the relevant person or the officer might have taken as a result of the matters discussed in relation to paragraphs (2)(b) or (2A)(b) above;

(iii)

about how, if at all, the action plan referred to in paragraphs (2)(d) or (2A)(e) above should be amended; and

(iv)

in order to consider any of the programmes and support available to help the relevant person obtain employment;

(c)

he provides answers (where asked) to questions and appropriate information about—

(i)

the content of any report made following his personal capability assessment, insofar as that report relates to the relevant person’s capabilities and employability; and

(ii)

his opinion as to the extent to which his medical condition restricts his ability to obtain employment; and

(d)

he assists the officer in the completion of any amendment of the action plan referred to in paragraphs (2)(d) or (2A)(e) above in light of the matters discussed in relation to sub-paragraph (b) above and the information provided in relation to sub-paragraph (c) above.”.