The Steps to Work (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Steps to Work (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 and shall come into operation on 5th October 2009.

(2) In this Order—

“Steps to Work” means the employment programme specified in regulation 75(1)(a)(vi) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(1);

“facilities” includes the provision of services;

“Steps to Work participant”, in relation to any time, means a person who is at that time participating in Steps to Work;

“trading payment” means a payment made to a Steps to Work participant in consideration of goods or services supplied by that person in the course of that person’s participation in Steps to Work;

“training allowance” means a payment made by, or on behalf of, the Department to a person in connection with that person’s participation in Steps to Work.

Treatment of persons and payments for the purposes of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and other specified statutory provisions

2.—(1) The provisions of this Article apply for the purposes of—

(a)Part 1 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(2);

(b)the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995(3); and

(c)the statutory provisions specified in the Schedule.

(2) If, for any period commencing on or after the day on which this Order comes into operation, a Steps to Work participant receives, or is eligible to receive, a training allowance, that person is to be treated for that period and in respect of that person’s participation in Steps to Work as not being employed but as participating in arrangements for training under section 1 of the Employment and Training Act (Northern Ireland) 1950.

(3) Except as mentioned in paragraph (4), any payment made to a Steps to Work participant during that period in connection with that person’s use of facilities provided in pursuance of those arrangements is to be treated in the same manner as a payment of training allowance made in respect of such training.

(4) Paragraph (3) does not apply in respect of any trading payment made to a Steps to Work participant who is receiving assistance in pursuing self-employed earner’s employment whilst participating in that programme.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Employment and Learning on 18th August 2009.

Sir Reg Empey

Minister for Employment and Learning