The Social Security (Work-focused Interviews for Lone Parents) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

Amendment of the Work-focused Interviews Regulations

3.—(1) The Work-focused Interviews shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) In regulation 3(1) (continuing entitlement to a specified benefit dependent on an interview)—

(a)in paragraph (1)(a), after “paragraph (3)” insert “, (3B), (3D), (3F) or (3H)”;

(b)for paragraph (3), substitute—

“(3) This paragraph applies at the times specified in paragraph (3A) where the young child condition is not satisfied (see paragraph (5B)) and where the lone parent—

(a)last took part;

(b)last failed to take part, or

(c)was last treated as having taken part,

in a relevant interview on a date or after 30th April 2006 but before 30th October 2006.

(3A) Paragraph (3) first applies 1 year after that date, and it applies again every 6 months after the day on which it first applies.

(3B) This paragraph applies at the times specified in paragraph (3C) where the young child condition is not satisfied and where the lone parent—

(a)last took part;

(b)last failed to take part, or

(c)was last treated as having taken part,

in a relevant interview on a date that was not on or after 30th April 2006 but before 30th October 2006.

(3C) Paragraph (3B) first applies 6 months after that date, and it applies again every 6 months after the day on which it first applies.

(3D) This paragraph applies at the times specified in paragraph (3E) where the young child condition is satisfied and where the interview that the lone parent—

(a)last took part in;

(b)last failed to take part in, or

(c)was last treated as having taken part in,

was the first relevant interview.

(3E) Paragraph (3D) first applies 6 months after the date of that first interview, and it applies again upon each anniversary of the date of that first interview.

(3F) This paragraph applies at the times specified in paragraph (3G) where the young child condition is satisfied and where the interview that the lone parent—

(a)last took part in;

(b)last failed to take part in, or

(c)was last treated as having taken part in,

was the second relevant interview.

(3G) Paragraph (3F) first applies 6 months after the date of that second interview, and it applies again upon each anniversary of the date on which it first applies.

(3H) This paragraph applies at the times specified in paragraph (3I) where the young child condition is satisfied and where the interview that the lone parent—

(a)last took part in;

(b)last failed to take part in, or

(c)was last treated as having taken part in,

was not the first or second relevant interview.

(3I) Paragraph (3H) first applies 1 year after the date of that interview, and it applies again upon each subsequent anniversary of that date.”.

(c)after paragraph (5), insert—

“(5A) In this regulation, “relevant interview” means an interview under these Regulations, in relation to the lone parent’s current claim.

(5B) For the purposes of this regulation, the young child condition is satisfied where the lone parent is responsible for and living in the same household as—

(a)a single child aged under 5, or

(b)more than one child where the youngest is aged under 5.”.

(3) In regulation 3 as amended by paragraph (2)(2)—

(a)in paragraph (1)(a), for “, (3B), (3D), (3F) or (3H)” substitute “or (3B)”;

(b)in paragraph (3)—

(i)omit “where the young child condition is not satisfied (see paragraph (5B)) and”, and

(ii)for “30th April 2006 but before 30th October 2006” substitute “28th April 2007 but before 30th October 2007”;

(c)in paragraph (3B)—

(i)omit “where the young child condition is not satisfied and”, and

(ii)for “30th April 2006 but before 30th October 2006” substitute “28th April 2007 but before 30th October 2007”;

(d)omit paragraphs (3D) to (3I), and

(e)omit paragraph (5B).