The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

[F1PART IXAHARDSHIP FOR JOINT-CLAIM COUPLES

Meaning of “couple in hardship”

146A.—(1) In this Part of these Regulations, a “couple in hardship” means for the purposes of regulation 146C, a joint-claim couple who are claiming a jobseeker’s allowance jointly, other than a couple which includes a member to whom paragraph (3) or (4) applies, where—

(a)[F2at least one member of the joint-claim couple is a woman who is pregnant] and the Secretary of State is satisfied that, unless a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance is paid, she will suffer hardship; or

(b)one or both members of the couple are members of a polygamous marriage, one member of the marriage is pregnant and the Secretary of State is satisfied that, unless a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance is paid, she will suffer hardship; or

(c)the award of a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance includes, or would, if a claim for a jobseeker’s allowance from the couple were to succeed, have included in their applicable amount a disability premium and—

(i)where the couple have an award, a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance is not payable F3... because it is suspended [F4or the award is reduced in accordance with section 19 or 19A or regulation 69B]; and

(ii)the Secretary of State is satisfied that, unless a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance is paid, the member of the couple who would have caused the disability premium to be applicable to the couple would suffer hardship; or

(d)either member of the couple suffers from a chronic medical condition which results in functional capacity being limited or restricted by physical [F5or mental] impairment and the Secretary of State is satisfied that—

(i)the suffering has already lasted or is likely to last, for not less than 26 weeks; and

(ii)unless a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance is paid, the probability is that the health of the person suffering would, within two weeks of the Secretary of State making his decision, decline further than that of a normally healthy adult and the member of the couple who suffers from that condition would suffer hardship; or

(e)either member of the couple, or where a member of that couple is married to more than one person under a law which permits polygamy, one member of that marriage, devotes a considerable portion of each week to caring for another person who—

(i)is in receipt of an attendance allowance[F6, the care component of disability living allowance at one of the two higher rates prescribed under section 72(4) of the Benefits Act[F7, armed forces independence payment] or the daily living component of personal independence payment at the standard or enhanced rate in accordance with section 78 of the 2012 Act]; or

(ii)has claimed either attendance allowance[F8, disability living allowance or personal independence payment] [F9, armed forces independence payment], but only for so long as the claim has not been determined, or for 26 weeks from the date of claiming, whichever is the earlier; or

(iii)has claimed either attendance allowance or disability living allowance and has an award of either attendance allowance or the care component of disability living allowance at one of the two higher rates prescribed under section 72(4) of the Benefits Act for a period commencing after the date on which that claim was made[F10; or

(iv)has claimed personal independence payment and has an award of the daily living component of personal independence payment at the standard or enhanced rate in accordance with section 78 of the 2012 Act for a period commencing after the date on which that claim was made;] [F11or

(v)has claimed and has an award of armed forces independence payment for a period commencing after the date on which that claim was made,]

and the Secretary of State is satisfied, after taking account of the factors set out in paragraph (6) in so far as they are appropriate to the particular circumstances of the case, that the person providing the care will not be able to continue doing so unless a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance is paid; or

(f)section 16 applies to either member of the couple by virtue of a direction issued by the Secretary of State, except where the member of the joint-claim couple to whom the direction applies does not satisfy the requirements of section 1(2)(a) to (c); or

(g)section 3A(1)(e)(ii) (member of joint-claim couple under the age of 18) applies to either member of the couple and the Secretary of State is satisfied that unless a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance is paid, the couple will suffer hardship; [F12or]

(h)one or both members of the couple is a person—

(i)who, pursuant to the Children Act 1989 [F13or the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014], was being looked after by a local authority;

(ii)with whom the local authority had a duty, pursuant to [F14either of those Acts], to take reasonable steps to keep in touch; or

(iii)who, pursuant to [F15either of those Acts], qualified for advice or assistance from a local authority,

but in respect of whom head (i), (ii) or, as the case may be, (iii) above had not applied for a period of three years or less as at the date on which the requirements of regulation 146F are complied with; and

(iv)as at the date on which the requirements of regulation 146F are complied with, that member is, or both of those members are, under the age of 21 [F16; or]

[F17(i)either member of the couple is a person who is homeless within the meaning of Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996, Part 2 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 or Part 2 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, as the case may be.]

(2) Except in a case to which paragraph (3), (4) F18... applies, a “couple in hardship” means for the purposes of regulation 146D, a joint-claim couple where the Secretary of State is satisfied, after taking account of the factors set out in paragraph (6) in so far as they are appropriate to the particular circumstances of the case, that the couple will suffer hardship unless a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance is paid.

(3) In paragraph (1) and (2), a “couple in hardship” does not include a couple one of whose members is entitled to income support [F19or an employment and support allowance] or who falls within a category of persons prescribed for the purposes of section 124(1)(e) of the Benefits Act.

(4) Paragraph (1)(e) shall not apply in a case where the person being cared for resides in a [F20care home, an Abbeyfield Home or an independent hospital].

F21(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F22(5A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F23(5B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) Factors which, for the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), the Secretary of State is to take into account in determining whether a joint-claim couple will suffer hardship are—

(a)the presence in the joint-claim couple of a person who satisfies the requirements for a disability premium specified in paragraphs 20H and 20I of Schedule 1;

(b)the resources which, without a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance, are likely to be available to the joint-claim couple, the amount by which these resources fall short of the amount applicable in their case in accordance with regulation 146G (applicable amount in hardship cases for joint-claim couples), the amount of any resources which may be available to the joint-claim couple for any person in the couple’s household who is not a member of the family and the length of time for which those factors are likely to persist;

(c)whether there is a substantial risk that essential items, including food, clothing, heating and accommodation, will cease to be available to the joint-claim couple, or will be available at considerably reduced levels, the hardship that will result and the length of time those factors are likely to persist.

Period when a joint-claim couple is not in hardship

F24146B.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Circumstances in which a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance is payable where a joint-claim couple is a couple in hardship

146C.—(1) This regulation applies where a joint-claim couple is a couple in hardship within the meaning of regulation 146A(1) and is subject to the provisions of regulations 146E and 146F.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), a couple in hardship referred to in paragraph (1), other than a couple in hardship where either or both members are persons to whom regulation 46(1) (waiting days) applies, shall be treated as entitled to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance for the period—

(a)beginning with the [F25eighth] day of the jobseeking period or, if later, from the day the couple first becomes a couple in hardship; and

(b)ending on the day before the claim is determined,

where the sole reason for the claim being determined on that day and not earlier is that a question arises as to whether either or both members satisfy the conditions of entitlement in section 1(2)(a) to (c) provided the joint-claim couple satisfy the conditions set out in section 1(2B)(c).

(3) A couple in hardship to whom paragraph (2) applies may be treated as entitled to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance for a period after the date referred to in that paragraph which is applicable in their case but before the date of the statement referred to in regulation 146E(1) is furnished where the Secretary of State is satisfied that that couple suffered hardship because of a lack of resources during that period.

(4) A couple in hardship, except where either or both members have been treated as not available for employment in accordance with regulations under section 6(4) shall, subject to the conditions specified in regulation 146E (conditions for hardship payments), be entitled to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance without both members satisfying the requirements of section 1(2)(a) to (c) provided the joint-claim couple satisfy the other conditions of entitlement to that benefit.

(5) A joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance shall be payable to a joint-claim couple who are a couple in hardship even though payment to the couple of a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance has been suspended in accordance with regulations made under section 21 of the Social Security Act 1998 on the ground that a doubt has arisen as to whether either joint-claimant satisfies the requirements of section 1(2)(a) to (c), but the allowance shall be payable only if and for so long as—

(a)the joint-claim couple satisfy the other conditions of entitlement to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance; or

(b)one member satisfies those conditions and the other member comes within any paragraph in Schedule A1 (categories of members not required to satisfy conditions in section 1(2B)(b)).

(6) A joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance shall be payable to a couple in hardship even though [F26the award of joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance has been reduced in accordance with section 19 or 19A or regulation 69B] but the allowance shall be payable only if and for so long as—

(a)the joint-claim couple satisfy the other conditions of entitlement to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance; or

(b)one member satisfies those conditions and the other member comes within any paragraph in Schedule A1 (categories of members not required to satisfy conditions in section 1(2B)(b)).

Further circumstances in which a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance is payable to a couple in hardship

146D.—(1) This regulation applies to a couple in hardship falling within paragraph (2) but not paragraph (1) of regulation 146A and is subject to the provisions of regulations 146E and 146F.

(2) A couple in hardship shall be treated as entitled to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance for a period commencing on whichever is the later of—

(a)the 15th day following the date of claim disregarding any waiting days; or

(b)the day on which regulation 146E is complied with,

and ending on the day before the claim is determined where the sole reason for the claim being determined on that day and not earlier is that a question arises as to whether either or both members of that couple satisfy the conditions of entitlement in section 1(2)(a) to (c) provided the joint-claim couple satisfy the conditions set out in section 1(2B)(c).

(3) A joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance shall be payable, subject to paragraph (4), to a couple in hardship even though payment to them of a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance has been suspended in accordance with regulations made under section 21 of the Social Security Act 1998 (suspension of benefit) on the ground that a doubt has arisen as to whether either or both members of that couple satisfy the requirements of section 1(2)(a) to (c) of the Act but the allowance shall be payable only if and for so long as—

(a)the joint-claim couple satisfy the other conditions of entitlement to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance; or

(b)one member satisfies those conditions and the other member comes within any paragraph in Schedule A1 (categories of members not required to satisfy conditions in section 1(2B)(b)).

(4) A joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance shall not be payable in respect of the first 14 days of the period of suspension.

(5) A joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance shall be payable to a couple in hardship even though [F27the award of joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance has been reduced in accordance with section 19 or 19A or regulation 69B] but the allowance—

(a)shall not be payable under this paragraph in respect of the first 14 days of the period to which [F28the reduction] applies; and

(b)shall be payable thereafter only where the conditions of entitlement to a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance are satisfied or where one member satisfies those conditions and the other member comes within any paragraph in Schedule A1 (categories of members not required to satisfy conditions in section 1(2B)(b)).

Conditions for hardship payments to a joint-claim couple

146E.—(1) A joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance shall not be payable in accordance with regulation 146C or, as the case may be, 146D, except where either member of the joint-claim couple has—

(a)furnished on a form approved for the purpose by the Secretary of State or in such other form as he may in any particular case approve, a statement of the circumstances he relies upon to establish entitlement under regulation 146C or, as the case may be, regulation 146D; and

(b)signed the statement.

(2) The completed and signed form shall be delivered by either member to such office as the Secretary of State may specify.

Provision of information

146F.  For the purposes of section 20B(5) and paragraph 10(3) of Schedule 1 to the Act, a member of a joint-claim couple shall provide to the Secretary of State information as to the circumstances of the alleged hardship of that couple.

Applicable amount in hardship cases for joint-claim couples

146G.—[F29(1) The weekly applicable amount of the joint-claim couple to whom a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance is payable in accordance with this Part of these Regulations shall be reduced by a sum equivalent to—

(a)20% of the amount specified in paragraph 1(1)(e) of Schedule 1 in a case where a member of a joint-claim couple is—

(i)either pregnant or seriously ill, or

(ii)a member of a polygamous marriage and one of the members of that marriage is pregnant or seriously ill, or

(b)40% of the amount specified in paragraph 1(1)(e) of Schedule 1 in all other cases.]

(2) A reduction under paragraph (1) shall, if it is not a multiple of 5p, be rounded to the nearest such multiple or, if it is a multiple of 2.5p but not of 5p, to the next lower multiple of 5p.

Payments made on account of suspended benefit

146H.—(1) This regulation applies to a joint-claim couple to whom—

(a)payments of a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance have been suspended in accordance with regulations made under section 21 of the Social Security Act 1998;

(b)a joint-claim jobseeker’s allowance is paid under regulation 146C or 146D.

(2) In the case of a joint-claim couple to whom—

(a)this regulation applies; and

(b)payments in respect of the benefit suspended fall to be made,

any benefit paid or payable by virtue of regulation 146C(5) or 146D(3) shall be treated as having been paid on account of the suspended benefit and only the balance of the suspended benefit, if any, shall be payable.]