The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008

Notional income – other income

108.—(1) Where a claimant’s earnings are not ascertainable at the time of the determination of the claim or of any revision or supersession the Secretary of State will treat the claimant as possessing such earnings as is reasonable in the circumstances of the case having regard to the number of hours worked and the earnings paid for comparable employment in the area.

(2) Where the amount of a subsistence allowance paid to a claimant in a benefit week is less than the amount of income-based jobseeker’s allowance that claimant would have received in that benefit week had it been payable to the claimant, less 50p, the claimant is to be treated as possessing the amount which is equal to the amount of income-based jobseeker’s allowance which the claimant would have received in that week, less 50p.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), where—

(a)a claimant performs a service for another person; and

(b)that person makes no payment of earnings or pays less than that paid for a comparable employment in the area,

the Secretary of State is to treat the claimant as possessing such earnings (if any) as is reasonable for that employment unless the claimant satisfies the Secretary of State that the means of that person are insufficient for the person to pay, or to pay more, for the service.

(4) Paragraph (3) will not apply—

(a)to a claimant who is engaged by a charitable or voluntary organisation or who is a volunteer if the Secretary of State is satisfied in any of those cases that it is reasonable for the claimant to provide the service free of charge;

(b)in a case where the service is performed in connection with—

(i)the claimant’s participation in an employment or training programme in accordance with regulation 19(1)(q) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations, other than where the service is performed in connection with the claimant’s participation in the Intensive Activity Period specified in regulation 75(1)(a)(iv) of those Regulations(1); or

(ii)the claimant’s or the claimant’s partner’s participation in an employment or training programme as defined in regulation 19(3) of those Regulations for which a training allowance is not payable or, where such an allowance is payable, it is payable for the sole purpose of reimbursement of travelling or meal expenses to the claimant or the claimant’s partner participating in that programme;

(c)to a claimant who is engaged in work experience whilst participating in—

(i)the New Deal for Lone Parents; or

(ii)a scheme which has been approved by the Secretary of State as supporting the objectives of the New Deal for Lone Parents; or

(d)to a claimant who is participating in a work placement approved in writing by the Secretary of State before the placement starts;

(e)in sub-paragraph (d) “work placement” means practical work experience with an employer, which is neither paid nor undertaken in expectation of payment.