Citation and commencement

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Jobseeker’s Allowance (Lone Parents) (Availability for Work) Regulations 2010.

(2) They come into force on 26th April 2010.

Amendment of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

2.—(1) The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 5 (exceptions to requirement to be available immediately)(4)—

(a)in paragraph (4), after “13” insert “, 13A”;

(b)in paragraph (5), for “or 13” substitute “, 13 or 13A”.

(3) In regulation 6 (employment of at least 40 hours per week)(5), for “13 or” in both places substitute “13, regulation 13A or”.

(4) In regulation 7(1) (restriction of hours for which a person is available to 40 hours per week), for “regulation 13 and in regulation 17(2)” substitute “regulations 13, 13A and 17(2)”.

(5) In regulation 8 (other restrictions on availability)(6), before “or 17(2)” insert “, 13A”.

(6) In regulation 11(1)(b) (part-time students)(7), before “or 17(2)” insert “, 13A”.

(7) In regulation 12(1)(a) (volunteers)(8), before “or 17(2)” insert “, 13A”.

(8) In regulation 13(2) (additional restrictions on availability for certain groups)(9), after “paragraph (3), (3A) or (4) of this regulation” insert “, regulation 13A or”.

(9) After regulation 13 insert the following new regulation—

“Additional restrictions on availability for lone parents

13A.  A lone parent who in any week is responsible for, and a member of the same household as, a child under the age of 13 may restrict his availability for employment to the child’s normal school hours.”.

(10) In regulation 14(2A) (circumstances in which a person is to be treated as available)(10), before “or 17(2)” in both places insert “, 13A”.

(11) In regulation 31(c) (contents of jobseeker’s agreement)(11), after “13” insert “, 13A”.

(12) In regulation 72(2)(a) (good cause for the purposes of section 19(5)(a) and (6)(c) and (d))(12), after “13” insert “, 13A”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996 (“the 1996 Regulations”) by inserting new regulation 13A which applies to lone parents who are responsible for, and a member of the same household as, a child under the age of 13.

It is normally a condition of entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance that claimants are willing and able to take up employment of at least 40 hours per week, but regulation 13A provides for an easement in the case of lone parents to whom the new provision applies. They will be able to restrict their availability for employment to the child’s normal school hours.

Consequential amendments are also made to other provisions of the 1996 Regulations concerning a claimant’s availability for work, the contents of a jobseeker’s agreement and good cause for the purposes of section 19 of the Jobseekers Act 1995.

A full impact assessment has not been prepared for this instrument as it has no impact on the private or voluntary sectors.