{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welfare-reform-act-northern-ireland-2007/section-20",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welfare-reform-act-northern-ireland-2007/section-20.json",
  "legislation": "nia/2007/2",
  "legislation_title": "Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/welfare-reform-act-northern-ireland-2007",
  "path": "section/20",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "20",
  "heading": "Relationship with statutory payments",
  "text": "(1) A person is not entitled to an employment and support allowance in respect of a day if, for the purposes of statutory sick pay, that day—\n(a) is a day of incapacity for work in relation to a contract of service, and\n(b) falls within a period of entitlement (whether or not it is a qualifying day).\n(2) Except as regulations may provide, a woman who is entitled to statutory maternity pay is not entitled to an employment and support allowance in respect of a day that falls within the maternity pay period.\n(3) Regulations may provide that—\n(a) an amount equal to a woman's statutory maternity pay for a period shall be deducted from an employment and support allowance in respect of the same period,\n(b) a woman shall only be entitled to an employment and support allowance if there is a balance after the deduction, and\n(c) if there is such a balance, a woman shall be entitled to an employment and support allowance at a weekly rate equal to it.\n(4) Except as regulations may provide, a person who is entitled to statutory adoption pay is not entitled to an employment and support allowance in respect of a day that falls within the adoption pay period.\n(5) Regulations may provide that—\n(a) an amount equal to a person's statutory adoption pay for a period shall be deducted from an employment and support allowance in respect of the same period,\n(b) a person shall only be entitled to an employment and support allowance if there is a balance after the deduction, and\n(c) if there is such a balance, a person shall be entitled to an employment and support allowance at a weekly rate equal to it.\n(6) Except as regulations may provide, a person who is entitled to statutory shared parental pay is not entitled to an employment and support allowance in respect of a day that falls within a period in respect of which statutory shared parental pay is payable.\n(7) Regulations may provide that—\n(a) an amount equal to a person's statutory shared parental pay for a period shall be deducted from an employment and support allowance in respect of the same period,\n(b) a person shall only be entitled to an employment and support allowance if there is a balance after the deduction, and\n(c) if there is such a balance, a person shall be entitled to an employment and support allowance at a weekly rate equal to it.\n(8) In this section—\n...\n“adoption pay period” has the meaning given in section 167ZN(2) of that Act;\n“maternity pay period” has the meaning given in section 161(1) of that Act.",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(2) substituted (2.5.2016 for specified purposes, 27.9.2017 for specified purposes, 15.11.2017 and 13.12.2017 for specified purposes, 17.1.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 16.5.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 5.9.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 1.2.2019 for specified purposes, 1.12.2025 for specified purposes, 1.4.2026 for specified purposes, 1.10.2026 for specified purposes) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), art. 2(2), Sch. 3 para. 21(e); S.R. 2016/215, art. 2(2)(c)(vi); S.R. 2017/190, art. 6 (with arts. 7, 8, 10-25, Sch. 3); S.R. 2017/216, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/1, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/97, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/138, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2019/7, art. 2(5)-(7) (with art. 2(8)-(12)); S.R. 2025/176, arts. 2, 3A, 4 (with art. 3); S.R. 2026/115, art. 2(4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(3)(a)-(c) substituted (2.5.2016 for specified purposes, 27.9.2017 for specified purposes, 15.11.2017 and 13.12.2017 for specified purposes, 17.1.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 16.5.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 5.9.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 1.2.2019 for specified purposes, 1.12.2025 for specified purposes, 1.4.2026 for specified purposes, 1.10.2026 for specified purposes) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), art. 2(2), Sch. 3 para. 21(e); S.R. 2016/215, art. 2(2)(c)(vi); S.R. 2017/190, art. 6 (with arts. 7, 8, 10-25, Sch. 3); S.R. 2017/216, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/1, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/97, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/138, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2019/7, art. 2(5)-(7) (with art. 2(8)-(12)); S.R. 2025/176, arts. 2, 3A, 4 (with art. 3); S.R. 2026/115, art. 2(4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(4) substituted (2.5.2016 for specified purposes, 27.9.2017 for specified purposes, 15.11.2017 and 13.12.2017 for specified purposes, 17.1.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 16.5.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 5.9.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 1.2.2019 for specified purposes, 1.12.2025 for specified purposes, 1.4.2026 for specified purposes, 1.10.2026 for specified purposes) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), art. 2(2), Sch. 3 para. 21(e); S.R. 2016/215, art. 2(2)(c)(vi); S.R. 2017/190, art. 6 (with arts. 7, 8, 10-25, Sch. 3); S.R. 2017/216, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/1, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/97, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/138, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2019/7, art. 2(5)-(7) (with art. 2(8)-(12)); S.R. 2025/176, arts. 2, 3A, 4 (with art. 3); S.R. 2026/115, art. 2(4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(5)(a)-(c) substituted (2.5.2016 for specified purposes, 27.9.2017 for specified purposes, 15.11.2017 and 13.12.2017 for specified purposes, 17.1.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 16.5.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 5.9.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 1.2.2019 for specified purposes, 1.12.2025 for specified purposes, 1.4.2026 for specified purposes, 1.10.2026 for specified purposes) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), art. 2(2), Sch. 3 para. 21(e); S.R. 2016/215, art. 2(2)(c)(vi); S.R. 2017/190, art. 6 (with arts. 7, 8, 10-25, Sch. 3); S.R. 2017/216, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/1, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/97, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/138, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2019/7, art. 2(5)-(7) (with art. 2(8)-(12)); S.R. 2025/176, arts. 2, 3A, 4 (with art. 3); S.R. 2026/115, art. 2(4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(6) substituted (15.3.2015) by Work and Families Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 1), s. 23(1), Sch. 1 para. 7(a)(i); S.R. 2015/86, art. 3(2)(g) (with art. 6(1))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(6) substituted (2.5.2016 for specified purposes, 27.9.2017 for specified purposes, 15.11.2017 and 13.12.2017 for specified purposes, 17.1.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 16.5.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 5.9.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 1.2.2019 for specified purposes, 1.12.2025 for specified purposes, 1.4.2026 for specified purposes, 1.10.2026 for specified purposes) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), art. 2(2), Sch. 3 para. 21(e); S.R. 2016/215, art. 2(2)(c)(vi); S.R. 2017/190, art. 6 (with arts. 7, 8, 10-25, Sch. 3); S.R. 2017/216, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/1, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/97, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/138, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2019/7, art. 2(5)-(7) (with art. 2(8)-(12)); S.R. 2025/176, arts. 2, 3A, 4 (with art. 3); S.R. 2026/115, art. 2(4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(6) substituted (15.3.2015) by Work and Families Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 1), s. 23(1), Sch. 1 para. 7(a)(ii); S.R. 2015/86, art. 3(2)(g) (with art. 6(1))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(7)(a) substituted (15.3.2015) by Work and Families Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 1), s. 23(1), Sch. 1 para. 7(b); S.R. 2015/86, art. 3(2)(g) (with art. 6(1))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(7)(a)-(c) substituted (2.5.2016 for specified purposes, 27.9.2017 for specified purposes, 15.11.2017 and 13.12.2017 for specified purposes, 17.1.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 16.5.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 5.9.2018 and further specified dates for specified purposes, 1.2.2019 for specified purposes, 1.12.2025 for specified purposes, 1.4.2026 for specified purposes, 1.10.2026 for specified purposes) by The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006), art. 2(2), Sch. 3 para. 21(e); S.R. 2016/215, art. 2(2)(c)(vi); S.R. 2017/190, art. 6 (with arts. 7, 8, 10-25, Sch. 3); S.R. 2017/216, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/1, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/97, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2018/138, art. 4 (with art. 5); S.R. 2019/7, art. 2(5)-(7) (with art. 2(8)-(12)); S.R. 2025/176, arts. 2, 3A, 4 (with art. 3); S.R. 2026/115, art. 2(4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(8) repealed (5.4.2015) by Work and Families Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 1), s. 23(1), Sch. 1 para. 7(c), Sch. 2; S.R. 2015/86, art. 4(2)(f)(3) (with art. 7(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 20(2) excluded (27.10.2008) by Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008/280), regs. 1(1), 80(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 20(4) excluded (27.10.2008) by Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008/280), regs. 1(1), 81(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "S. 20(6) excluded (day on which regulations made under or by virtue of ss. 167ZEA to 167ZEE of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 come into operation for certain purposes, otherwise 27.10.2008) by Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008/280), regs. 1(1)(3), 82(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 20 wholly in operation at 27.10.2008; s. 20 not in operation at Royal Assent see s. 60(1); s. 20(2)-(7) in operation for certain purposes at 1.7.2008 and wholly in operation at 27.10.2008 by S.R. 2008/276, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 1; s. 20 in operation at 27.10.2008 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2008/276, art. 2(2)(d), Sch. Pt. 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "substituted",
      "affecting": "nia/2010/13",
      "affecting_title": "Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2010"
    },
    {
      "type": "excluded",
      "affecting": "nisr/2008/280",
      "affecting_title": "The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2007/2/section/20",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T20:21:31.107511+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."
}