Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations, which may be cited as the Social Security (Jobseeker's Allowance Consequential Amendments) (Deductions) Regulations 1996, shall come into force on 7th October 1996.

(2) In these Regulations-

"the Community Charges Regulations" means the Community Charges (Deductions from Income Support) (No. 2) Regulations 1990(8);

"the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations" means the Community Charges (Deductions from Income Support) (Scotland) Regulations 1989(9);

"the Council Tax Regulations" means the Council Tax (Deductions from Income Support) Regulations 1993(10);

"the Fines Regulations" means the Fines (Deductions from Income Support) Regulations 1992(11).

Amendment of regulation 1 of the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations

2. In regulation 1(2) of the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations-

(a)in the definition of "appropriate social security office" for the words "Department of Employment" there are substituted the words "Department for Education and Employment", and for the words "unemployment benefit" there are substituted the words "jobseeker's allowance and income support";

(b)in the definition of "income support", there are added at the end of the words "but does not include any back to work bonus under section 26 of the Jobseekers Act which is paid as income support;";

(c)after that definition there are inserted the following definitions-

""Jobseekers Act" means the Jobseekers Act 1995(12);

"jobseeker's allowance" means an allowance under Part I of the Jobseekers Act but does not include any back to work bonus under section 26 of that Act which is paid as jobseeker's allowance;";

(d)after the definition of "payments to third parties" there are inserted the following definitions-

""personal allowance for a couple where both members are aged not less than 18" means the amount specified in paragraph 1(3)(c) of Schedule 2 to the Income Support Regulations 1987(13), or, as the case may be, the amount specified in paragraph 1(3)(e) of Schedule 1 to the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996(14);

"personal allowance for a single claimant aged not less than 25" means the amount specified in paragraph 1(1)(e) of Schedule 2 to the Income Support Regulations 1987, or, as the case may be, the amount specified in paragraph 1(1)(e) of Schedule 1 to the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996;".

Amendment of regulation 2 of the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations

3.-(1) For the heading of regulation 2 of the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations there is substituted the following heading-

"Deductions from income support or jobseeker's allowance".

(2) Regulation 2 of the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations(15) is amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(3) In paragraph (1) after the words "income support" there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

(4) In paragraph (2)(e) after the words "income support" there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

(5) In paragraph (4)-

(a)in sub-paragraph (a) after the words "income support" in each place where they occur there are inserted the words "or income-based jobseeker's allowance";

(b)after sub-paragraph (a) there is inserted the following sub-paragraph-

"(aa)whether there is sufficient entitlement to contribution-based jobseeker's allowance to enable the Secretary of State to make any deduction, and for this purpose the adjudication officer shall determine that there is sufficient entitlement if the amount of contribution-based jobseeker's allowance payable before any deduction under these regulations is equal to or more than one-third of the age-related amount applicable to the debtor under section 4(1)(a) of the Jobseekers Act;";

(c)in sub-paragraph (b) after the words "income support" there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

Insertion of regulation 2A of the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations

4. After regulation 2 of the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations there is inserted the following regulation-

"Deductions from debtor's jobseeker's allowance

2A.-(1) Where the adjudication officer has determined that there is sufficient entitlement to income-based jobseeker's allowance, the Secretary of State may deduct-

(a)in a case to which regulation 2(4)(a)(i) applies, a sum equal to 5 per cent. of the personal allowance for a single claimant aged not less than 25; or

(b)in a case to which regulation 2(4)(a)(ii) applies, and subject to paragraph (4), a sum equal to 5 per cent. of the personal allowance for a couple where both members are aged not less than 18,

and pay that sum to the levying authority towards satisfaction of any outstanding sum which is or forms part of the amount in respect of which the summary warrant or decree was granted.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where the adjudication officer has determined that there is sufficient entitlement to contribution-based jobseeker's allowance, the Secretary of State may deduct a sum equal to one-third of the age-related amount applicable to the debtor under section 4(1)(a) of the Jobseekers Act, and pay that sum to the levying authority towards satisfaction of any outstanding sum which is or forms part of the amount in respect of which the summary warrant or decree was granted.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2) where the sum that would otherwise fall to be deducted includes a fraction of a penny, the sum to be deducted shall be rounded down to the next whole penny.

(4) In a case to which paragraphs (1)(b) and (2) apply, deductions shall be made in accordance with paragraph (2).".

Amendment of regulation 4 of the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations

5. In regulation 4 of the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations(16) after the words "income support" in each place where they occur, other than in paragraph (1)(b), there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

Amendment of regulation 1 of the Community Charges Regulations

6. In regulation 1(2) of the Community Charges Regulations-

(a)in the definition of "appropriate social security office" for the words "Department of Employment" there are substituted the words "Department for Education and Employment", and for the words "unemployment benefit" there are substituted the words "jobseeker's allowance and income support";

(b)in the definition of "income support", there are added at the end the words "but does not include any back to work bonus under section 26 of the Jobseekers Act which is paid as income support;";

(c)after that definition there are inserted the following definitions-

""Jobseekers Act" means the Jobseekers Act 1995(17);

"jobseeker's allowance" means an allowance under Part I of the Jobseekers Act but does not include any back to work bonus under section 26 of that Act which is paid as jobseeker's allowance;".

Amendment of regulation 2 of the Community Charges Regulations

7.-(1) For the heading of regulation 2 of the Community Charges Regulations there is substituted the following heading-

"Deductions from income support or jobseeker's allowance".

(2) Regulation 2 of the Community Charges Regulations(18) is amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(3) In paragraph (1) after the words "income support" in each place where they occur there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

(4) In paragraph (2)(e) after the words "income support" there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

(5) In paragraph (4)-

(a)in sub-paragraph (a)-

(i)after the words "income support" in the first and last place where they occur, there are inserted the words "or income-based jobseeker's allowance";

(ii)in head (i), after the words "paragraph 1(1)(e)" there are inserted the words "or, as the case may be, paragraph 1(1)(e) of Schedule 1 to the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996(19)"; and

(iii)in head (ii), after the words "income support" in the first place where they occur there are inserted the words "or income-based jobseeker's allowance", and after the words "paragraph 1(3)(c)" there are inserted the words "or, as the case may be, paragraph 1(3)(e) of Schedule 1 to the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996";

(b)after sub-paragraph (a) there is inserted the following sub-paragraph-

"(aa)whether there is sufficient entitlement to contribution-based jobseeker's allowance to enable the Secretary of State to make any deduction, and for this purpose the adjudication officer shall determine that there is sufficient entitlement if the amount of contribution-based jobseeker's allowance payable before any deduction under these regulations is equal to or more than one-third of the age-related amount applicable to the debtor under section 4(1)(a) of the Jobseekers Act;";

(c)in sub-paragraph (b) after the words "income support" there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

Insertion of regulation 2A of the Community Charges Regulations

8. After regulation 2 of the Community Charges Regulations there is inserted the following regulation-

"Deductions from debtor's jobseeker's allowance

2A.-(1) Where the adjudication officer has determined that there is sufficient entitlement to income-based jobseeker's allowance, the Secretary of State may deduct-

(a)in a case to which regulation 2(4)(a)(i) applies, a sum equal to 5 per cent. of the personal allowance for a single claimant aged not less than 25; or

(b)in a case to which regulation 2(4)(a)(ii) applies, and subject to paragraph (4), a sum equal to 5 per cent. of the personal allowance for a couple where both members are aged not less than 18,

and pay that sum to the authority towards satisfaction of any outstanding sum which is or forms part of the amount in respect of which the liability order was made.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where the adjudication officer has determined that there is sufficient entitlement to contribution-based jobseeker's allowance, the Secretary of State may deduct a sum equal to one-third of the age-related amount applicable to the debtor under section 4(1)(a) of the Jobseekers Act, and pay that sum to the authority towards satisfaction of any outstanding sum which is or forms part of the amount in respect of which the liability order was made.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2) where the sum that would otherwise fall to be deducted includes a fraction of a penny, the sum to be deducted shall be rounded down to the next whole penny.

(4) In a case to which paragraphs (1)(b) and (2) apply, deductions shall be made in accordance with paragraph (2).".

Amendment of regulation 4 of the Community Charges Regulations

9. In regulation 4 of the Community Charges Regulations after the words "income support", in each place where they occur, there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

Amendment of regulation 1 of the Fines Regulations

10. In regulation 1(2) of the Fines Regulations-

(a)in the definition of "benefit week" there are added at the end the words "or, as the case may be, regulation 1(3) of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996(20);";

(b)after the definition of "5 per cent. of the personal allowance for a single claimant aged not less than 25" there is inserted the following definition-

• ""income support" means income support under Part VII of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992(21), but does not include any back to work bonus under section 26 of the Jobseekers Act which is paid as income support;";

(c)after the definition of "Income Support Regulations" there are inserted the following definitions-

""Jobseekers Act" means the Jobseekers Act 1995(22);

"jobseeker's allowance" means an allowance under Part I of the Jobseekers Act but does not include any back to work bonus under section 26 of that Act which is paid as jobseeker's allowance;";

(d)in the definition of "personal allowance for a single claimant aged not less than 25" there are added at the end the words "or, as the case may be, the amount specified in paragraph 1(1)(e) of Schedule 1 to the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996;";

(e)in the definition of "social security office", for the words "Department of Employment" there are substituted the words "Department for Education and Employment", and for the words "unemployment benefit" there are substituted the words "jobseeker's allowance and income support".

Amendment of regulation 2 of the Fines Regulations

11.-(1) For the heading of regulation 2 of the Fines Regulations there is substituted the following heading-

"Application for deductions from income support or jobseeker's allowance".

(2) In paragraph (1) of regulation 2 of the Fines Regulations after the words "income support" in each place where they occur there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

Amendment of regulation 4 of the Fines Regulations

12.-(1) Regulation 4 of the Fines Regulations(23) is amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (1), after the words "income support" there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

(3) In paragraph (2), after the words "income support", in both places where they occur, there are inserted the words "or income-based jobseeker's allowance".

(4) After paragraph (2) there is inserted the following paragraph-

"(2A) The adjudication officer shall determine that there is sufficient entitlement to contribution-based jobseeker's allowance to enable the Secretary of State to make a deduction if the amount of contribution-based jobseeker's allowance payable before any deduction under these regulations is equal to or more than one-third of the age-related amount applicable to the offender under section 4(1)(a) of the Jobseekers Act.".

(5) In paragraph (3), after the words "income support" there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

Amendment of regulation 6 of the Fines Regulations

13.-(1) For the heading of regulation 6 of the Fines Regulations there is substituted the following heading-

"Deductions from offender's income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance".

(2) In regulation 6 of the Fines Regulations after the words "income support" there are inserted the words "or income-based jobseeker's allowance".

Insertion of regulation 6A of the Fines Regulations

14. After regulation 6 of the Fines Regulations there is inserted the following regulation-

"Deductions from offender's contribution-based jobseeker's allowance

6A.-(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), where the adjudication officer has determined that there is sufficient entitlement to contribution-based jobseeker's allowance, the Secretary of State may deduct a sum equal to one-third of the age-related amount applicable to the offender under section 4(1)(a) of the Jobseekers Act, and pay that sum to the court towards satisfaction of the fine or the sum required to be paid by the compensation order.

(2) No deduction shall be made under this regulation where a deduction is being made from the offender's contribution-based jobseeker's allowance under the Community Charges (Deductions from Income Support) (No. 2) Regulations 1990(24), the Community Charges (Deductions from Income Support) (Scotland) Regulations 1989(25) or the Council Tax (Deductions from Income Support) Regulations 1993(26).

(3) Where the sum that would otherwise fall to be deducted under this regulation includes a fraction of a penny, the sum to be deducted shall be rounded down to the next whole penny.".

Amendment of regulation 7 of the Fines Regulations

15.-(1) Regulation 7 of the Fines Regulations is amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (1)-

(a)after the words "income support" in both places where they occur there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance"; and

(b)after the words "regulation 6" there are inserted the words "or 6A".

(3) In paragraphs (2), (3), (4) and (6) after the words "income support" in each place where they occur there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

Amendment of Schedule 3 to the Fines Regulations

16. In Schedule 3 to the Fines Regulations (form of application)-

(a)after the words "by way of income support" there are inserted the words "/jobseeker's allowance*"; and

(b)at the end of the form there are inserted the words "*Delete words not applicable".

Amendment of regulation 1 of the Council Tax Regulations

17. In regulation 1(2) of the Council Tax Regulations-

(a)in the definition of "benefit week" there are added at the end the words "or, as the case may be, regulation 1(3) of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996(27);";

(b)in the definition of "income support", there are added at the end the words "but does not include any back to work bonus under section 26 of the Jobseekers Act which is paid as income support;";

(c)after that definition there are inserted the following definitions-

""Jobseekers Act" means the Jobseekers Act 1995(28);

"jobseeker's allowance" means an allowance under Part I of the Jobseekers Act but does not include any back to work bonus under section 26 of that Act which is paid as jobseeker's allowance;";

(d)in the definition of "personal allowance for a single claimant aged not less than 25" there are added at the end the words "or, as the case may be, the amount specified in paragraph 1(1)(e) of Schedule 1 to the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996;";

(e)in the definition of "social security office", for the words "Department of Employment" there are substituted the words "Department for Education and Employment", and for the words "unemployment benefit" there are substituted the words "jobseeker's allowance and income support".

Amendment of regulation 2 of the Council Tax Regulations

18.-(1) For the heading of regulation 2 of the Council Tax Regulations there is substituted the following heading-

"Application for deductions from income support or jobseeker's allowance: England and Wales".

(2) In regulation 2 of the Council Tax Regulations after the words "income support" in each place where they occur there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

Amendment of regulation 3 of the Council Tax Regulations

19.-(1) For the heading of regulation 3 of the Council Tax Regulations there is substituted the following heading-

"Application for deductions from income support or jobseeker's allowance: Scotland".

(2) In regulation 3(29) of the Council Tax Regulations after the words "income support" in each place where they occur there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

Amendment of regulation 4 of the Council Tax Regulations

20. In regulation 4(1)(f) of the Council Tax Regulations after the words "income support" there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

Amendment of regulation 5 of the Council Tax Regulations

21.-(1) Regulation 5 of the Council Tax Regulations is amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (1) after the words "income support" there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

(3) In paragraph (2) after the words "income support", in both places where they occur, there are inserted the words "or income-based jobseeker's allowance".

(4) After paragraph (2) there is inserted the following paragraph-

"(2A) The adjudication officer shall determine that there is sufficient entitlement to contribution-based jobseeker's allowance to enable the Secretary of State to make a deduction if the amount of contribution-based jobseeker's allowance payable before any deduction under these regulations is equal to or more than one-third of the age-related amount applicable to the debtor under section 4(1)(a) of the Jobseekers Act.".

(5) In paragraph (3) after the words "income support" there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

Amendment of regulation 7 of the Council Tax Regulations

22.-(1) For the heading of regulation 7 of the Council Tax Regulations there is substituted the following heading-

"Deductions from debtor's income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance".

(2) In regulation 7 of the Council Tax Regulations after the words "income support" there are inserted the words "or income-based jobseeker's allowance".

Insertion of regulation 7A of the Council Tax Regulations

23. After regulation 7 of the Council Tax Regulations there is inserted the following regulation-

"Deductions from debtor's contribution-based jobseeker's allowance

7A.-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), where the adjudication officer has determined that there is sufficient entitlement to contribution-based jobseeker's allowance, the Secretary of State may deduct a sum equal to one-third of the age-related amount applicable to the debtor under section 4(1)(a) of the Jobseekers Act, and pay that sum to the authority towards satisfaction of any outstanding sum which is or forms part of the amount in respect of which the liability order was made or the summary warrant or decree was granted.

(2) Where the sum that would otherwise fall to be deducted under this regulation includes a fraction of a penny, the sum to be deducted shall be rounded down to the next whole penny.".

Amendment of regulation 8 of the Council Tax Regulations

24.-(1) Regulation 8 of the Council Tax Regulations is amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (1)-

(a)for the words "income support under regulation 7" there are substituted the words "income support or jobseeker's allowance under regulation 7 or 7A"; and

(b)in sub-paragraph (a) after the words "income support" there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

(3) In paragraphs (2), (3) and (5) after the words "income support" in each place where they occur there are inserted the words "or jobseeker's allowance".

Amendment of Schedule 9 to the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987

25.-(1) Schedule 9 to the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987(30) (deductions from benefit and direct payment to third parties) is amended in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 1(1)(31), after the definition of "the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations" there is inserted the following definition-

• ""contribution-based jobseeker's allowance" means any contribution-based jobseeker's allowance which does not fall within the definition of "specified benefit(32)";".

(3) After paragraph 7A(33) there is inserted the following paragraph-

"Arrears of child support maintenance

7B.-(1) Where a beneficiary is entitled to contribution-based jobseeker's allowance and an arrears notice has been served on the beneficiary, the Secretary of State may request in writing that an amount in respect of arrears of child support maintenance be deducted from the beneficiary's jobseeker's allowance.

(2) Where a request is made in accordance with sub-paragraph (1), the adjudicating authority shall determine that an amount in respect of the arrears of child support maintenance shall be deducted from the beneficiary's jobseeker's allowance for transmission to the person entitled to it.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraphs (4) and (5), the amount to be deducted under sub-paragraph (2) shall be the weekly amount requested by the Secretary of State, subject to a maximum of one-third of the age-related amount applicable to the beneficiary under section 4(1)(a) of the Jobseekers Act.

(4) No deduction shall be made under this paragraph where a deduction is being made from the beneficiary's contribution-based jobseeker's allowance under the Community Charges Regulations, the Community Charges (Scotland) Regulations, the Fines Regulations or the Council Tax Regulations.

(5) Where the sum that would otherwise fall to be deducted under this paragraph includes a fraction of a penny, the sum to be deducted shall be rounded down to the next whole penny.

(6) In this paragraph-

"arrears notice" means a notice served in accordance with regulation 2(2) of the Child Support (Arrears, Interest and Adjustment of Maintenance Assessments) Regulations 1992(34); and

"child support maintenance" means such periodical payments as are referred to in section 3(6) of the Child Support Act 1991(35)."

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Community Charges (Deductions from Income Support) (Scotland) Regulations 1989, the Community Charges (Deductions from Income Support) (No. 2) Regulations 1990, the Fines (Deductions from Income Support) Regulations 1992 and the Council Tax (Deductions from Income Support) Regulations 1993, which provide that deductions may be made from a person's income support and paid towards arrears of community charges or council tax, or towards fines or compensation orders imposed by a court. The regulations are amended so that deductions can also be made from jobseeker's allowance.

These Regulations also amend the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 to provide that deductions in respect of arrears of child support maintenance can be made from a person's contribution-based jobseeker's allowance.

These Regulations do not impose any costs on business.