Jobseekers
Job seeker’s allowance is provided for by the Job Seekers Allowance, NI, Order 1995 as amended. There are two separate benefits, income-based job seeker’s allowance and contribution-based job seeker’s allowance.
Income-based job seeker’s allowance is means-tested. The applicant must be habitually resident and have the right to reside. Contribution-based job seeker’s allowance is dependent on National Insurance contributions. It can be paid for up to six months only and is dependent on current contribution.
The claimant must have paid class 1 contributions producing earnings 25 times lower income limit in one or two preceding tax years unpaid are being credited with contributions producing an earning factor of 50 times lower income limit with each of the two tax years before the year of the claim. Claimants may qualify for both forms of job seeker’s allowance successively.
The conditions for both payments are broadly similar. They must be under pension age, resident in Northern Ireland, and not receiving income support. They must be capable of work, not in full-time work, work less than 16 hours a week, or be in relevant education. Persons who fail the test for incapacity benefit are deemed capable of work.
A person may not qualify for income-based job seekers allowance if they have a partner who works more than 24 hours a week. Relevant education means if a person is under 19 and full-time in education. Persons in full-time education are generally excluded from job seeker’s allowance. They may not sign on for job seeker’s allowance during the term of vocation.
Job seekers must satisfy the labor market condition. They must be available for and actively seeking work and have a current job seeker’s agreement.
They must be prepared to accept work of at least 40 hours a week or less if required. Carers and persons with disabilities may be allowed to restrict the number of hours they are available for work. Availability for work means that they must be prepared to work immediately.
Claimants must be willing and able to do any kind of work. An exception is in respect of persons with disabilities. Apart from this, a person has a period of 13 weeks after commencement when they can restrict availability to the type of work they normally do. This will depend on having particular qualifications and skills.
Terms and conditions may only be imposed if it is reasonable by virtue of disability or they have a permitted period of up to six months maximum if they have a reasonable prospect of securing employment. They may place restrictions on localities in which they work provided they have reasonable prospects of employment.
Employees must actively seek work. They must demonstrate the steps they are taking to find employment. They must enter into a jobseeker’s agreement with the department employment officer. This will set out the steps they must take to secure employment and improve the chances of employment being secured and availability for work.
Claimants aged 25 and over receive £57.45 per week; below that, the rate is £45.50. There are no dependent increments. A claim for income-based job seeker’s plans may top up contribution-based job seeker’s allowance.
Persons who are in receipt of pensions exceeding £50 per week from their occupation or private pension will have a benefit reduced by the excess.
Applications for a claim must be made on the appropriate form. Exceptionally, backdating of up to three months may take place.
Persons dissatisfied with decisions may request a revision or appeal.
Persons may receive sanctions in certain circumstances. Where persons have resigned or have been fired due to misconduct, they may be sanctioned for between 1 and 26 weeks. Failure to carry out directions by an employment officer may result in local sanctions of two to four weeks. Payment may be paid at a reduced rate or withdrawn altogether. Persons who are sanctioned may receive parts of payments in limited circumstances.