SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 7 Joint claims for jobseeker’s allowance

Jobseekers Act 1995 (c.18)

I1C12

1

Section 1 (entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance) is amended as follows.

2

In subsection (2) (conditions of entitlement), for paragraph (d) (claimant must satisfy conditions set out in section 2 or 3) substitute—

d

satisfies the conditions set out in section 2;

3

F1After subsection (2) insert—

2A

Subject to the provisions of this Act, a claimant who is not a member of a joint-claim couple is entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance if he satisfies—

a

the conditions set out in paragraphs (a) to (c) and (e) to (i) of subsection (2); and

b

the conditions set out in section 3.

2B

Subject to the provisions of this Act, a joint-claim couple are entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance if—

a

a claim for the allowance is made jointly by the couple;

b

each member of the couple satisfies the conditions set out in paragraphs (a) to (c) and (e) to (i) of subsection (2); and

c

the conditions set out in section 3A are satisfied in relation to the couple.

2C

Regulations may prescribe circumstances in which subsection (2A) is to apply to a claimant who is a member of a joint-claim couple.

2D

Regulations may, in respect of cases where a person would (but for the regulations) be a member of two or more joint-claim couples, make provision for only one of those couples to be a joint-claim couple; and the provision which may be so made includes provision for the couple which is to be the joint-claim couple to be nominated—

a

by the persons who are the members of the couples, or

b

in default of one of the couples being so nominated, by the Secretary of State.

4

F1In subsection (4)—

a

in the definition of “an income-based jobseeker’s allowance”, at the end insert “ or a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance; ” and

b

after that definition insert—

  • a joint-claim couple” means a married or unmarried couple who—

    1. a

      are not members of any family whose members include a person in respect of whom a member of the couple is entitled to child benefit, and

    2. b

      are of a prescribed description;

  • a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance” means a jobseeker’s allowance entitlement to which arises by virtue of subsection (2B).