Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2011 and shall come into force on 5th August 2011.

Amendments to the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

2. —(1)The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996( 5 ) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 73(2C) (good cause for the purposes of section 19(5)(b))( 6 ) for the words from “provided that person” to the end substitute—

“ provided that either—

(a) that person is aged 16 or 17 on the first day of that person’s participation in Work Experience; or

(b) that person—

(i) attends on the first day of that person’s Work Experience,

(ii) gives up not later than one week after the date on which that person begins Work Experience, and

(iii) does not lose the Work Experience place through misconduct. ” .

(3) For regulation 75(1)(a)(vi) (interpretation)( 7 ) substitute—

“ (vi) Work Experience, being a programme which consists of work experience, job search skills and job skills (and which is not employment), provided in pursuance of arrangements made by or on behalf of the Secretary of State under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973, and which—

(aa) subject to sub-paragraph (bb), is of between two and eight weeks duration,

(bb) is of between two and twelve weeks duration where, during the first eight weeks of the claimant’s participation in Work Experience, and as a result of that participation, the claimant is offered and accepts an apprenticeship made under Government arrangements made respectively for England, Wales or Scotland. ” .

Amendments to the Jobseeker’s Allowance (Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme) Regulations 2011

3. —(1)The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme) Regulations 2011( 8 ) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation)—

(a) after the definition of “the Council Tax Regulations” insert—

“ “full-time student” has the same meaning as in regulation 1(3) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations; ” ;

(b) after the definition of “the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations” insert—

“ “New Enterprise Allowance” means an employment initiative provided in pursuance of arrangements made by or on behalf of the Secretary of State under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973 designed to assist claimants into self-employed earner’s employment; ” ;

(c) after the definition of “the Scheme” insert—

“ “self-employed earner’s employment” has the same meaning as in the Benefits Act; ” .

(3) After regulation 5 (circumstances in which the requirement to participate in the Scheme is suspended or ceases to apply), insert—

“ Requirement to meet the jobseeking conditions

5A. —(1) A claimant who is participating in the Scheme is not required to meet the condition set out in section 1(2)(c) of the Act (conditions for entitlement to a jobseeker’s allowance: actively seeking employment) if the claimant is also participating in New Enterprise Allowance.

(2) A claimant who is participating in the Scheme is not required to meet the conditions set out in section 1(2)(a) and (c) of the Act (conditions for entitlement to a jobseeker’s allowance: available for and actively seeking employment) if the claimant is a full-time student. ” .

Consequential amendments to the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 and the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008

4. —(1) In this regulation—

(a) “the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations” means the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008( 9 ); and

(b) “the Income Support Regulations” means the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987( 10 ).

(2) Paragraph (3) applies to the following provisions (which relate to interpretation)—

(a) regulation 2(1) of the Income Support Regulations; and

(b) regulation 2(1) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations.

(3) In each of the provisions to which this paragraph applies insert the following definitions in the appropriate alphabetical places—

“ “the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme” means a scheme within section 17A (schemes for assisting persons to obtain employment: “work for your benefit” schemes etc.) of the Jobseekers Act 1995, known by that name and provided pursuant to arrangements made by the Secretary of State that is designed to assist claimants to obtain employment or self-employment, and which may include for any individual work-related activity (including work experience or job search); ” ;

“ “the Mandatory Work Activity Scheme” means a scheme within section 17A of the Jobseekers Act 1995, known by that name and provided pursuant to arrangements made by the Secretary of State that is designed to provide work or work-related activity for up to 30 hours per week over a period of four consecutive weeks with a view to assisting claimants to improve their prospects of obtaining employment; ” .

(4) Paragraph (5) applies to the following provisions (which relate to notional income)—

(a) regulation 42(4ZA) of the Income Support Regulations( 11 ); and

(b) regulation 107(5) of the Employment and Support Regulations( 12 ).

(5) In each of the provisions to which this paragraph applies insert the following sub-paragraph after sub-paragraph (c)—

“ (ca) in respect of a person’s participation in the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme or the Mandatory Work Activity Scheme; or ” .

(6) Paragraph (7) applies to the following provisions (which relate to notional capital)—

(a) regulation 51(3A) of the Income Support Regulations( 13 ); and

(b) regulation 115(5) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations( 14 ).

(7) In each of the provisions to which this paragraph applies insert the following sub-paragraph after sub-paragraph (b)—

“ (ba) in respect of a person’s participation in the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme or the Mandatory Work Activity Scheme; ” .

(8) Paragraph (9) applies to the following Schedules (which relate to sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings)—

(a) Schedule 9 to the Income Support Regulations; and

(b) Schedule 8 to the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations.

(9) In each Schedule to which this paragraph applies insert the following paragraph after paragraph 1—

“ 1A. Any payment in respect of any travel of other expenses incurred, or to be incurred, by the claimant in respect of that claimant’s participation in the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme or the Mandatory Work Activity Scheme. ” .

(10) Paragraph (11) applies to the following Schedules (which relate to capital to be disregarded)—

(a) Schedule 10 to the Income Support Regulations; and

(b) Schedule 9 to the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations.

(11) In each Schedule to which this paragraph applies insert the following paragraph after paragraph 1—

“ 1A. Any payment in respect of any travel or other expenses incurred, or to be incurred, by the claimant in respect of that claimant’s participation in the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme or the Mandatory Work Activity Scheme, but only for 52 weeks beginning with the date of receipt of the payment. ” .