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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS


2001 No. 1395

SOCIAL SECURITY

The Social Security (Breach of Community Order) Regulations 2001

  Made 5th April 2001 
  Coming into force 15th October 2001 

Whereas a draft of this instrument was laid before Parliament in accordance with section 65(4) of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000[1] and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

     Now therefore, the Secretary of State for Social Security, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 62(2) to (5) and (8), 63(2) to (4), 64(2), (6) and (8) and 65(1) and (2) of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000[2] and section 189(4) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992[3], and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, which is made before the end of a period of 6 months beginning with the coming into force of sections 62 to 65 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act[4], by this Instrument, hereby makes the following Regulations:



PART I

GENERAL

Citation, commencement and interpretation
     1.  - (1) These Regulations shall be cited as the Social Security (Breach of Community Order) Regulations 2001 and shall come into force on 15th October 2001.

    (2) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires - 

    (3) Expressions used in these Regulations which are defined either for the purposes of the Jobseekers Act or for the purposes of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations shall, except where the context otherwise requires, have the same meaning as for the purposes of that Act or, as the case may be, those Regulations.

    (4) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference - 

Description of a prescribed payment for the purposes of section 62(8) of the Act and the extent to which it is payable in accordance with section 62(5) of the Act
     2.  - (1) A prescribed payment for the purposes of paragraph (d) of the definition of "relevant benefit" in section 62(8) of the Act is a payment of a training allowance made to an individual pursuant to arrangements under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973[10] in respect of that individual's participation in - 

    (2) In accordance with section 62(5) of the Act, where section 62(2) of the Act applies, the payment prescribed in paragraph (1) shall be payable for the prescribed period only to the extent of any part of that payment that is within the meaning of - 

Prescribed period
     3.  - (1) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), in relation to a restriction under section 62(2) of the Act applying in respect of a jobseeker's allowance, the prescribed period shall be - 

    (2) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), in relation to a restriction under section 62(2) of the Act applying in respect of a payment prescribed in regulation 2, the prescribed period shall be the period of four weeks commencing on the operative day.

    (3) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), in relation to a restriction under section 62(3) of the Act (income support), the prescribed period shall be - 

    (4) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), in relation to a restriction under section 63(1) of the Act (joint-claim jobseeker's allowance), the prescribed period shall be - 

    (5) Where the offender is aged 17 on the examination day but attains the age of 18 before the last day of the period prescribed in paragraphs (1) to (4), the prescribed period shall be the period commencing on the first day of the benefit week commencing immediately after the day on which the offender attains the age of 18 and ending on the last day of the period prescribed in paragraphs (1) to (4).

    (6) Where the offender is aged 59 on the examination day but attains the age of 60 before the final day, the prescribed period shall be the period commencing on the first day of the period prescribed in paragraphs (1) to (4) and ending on the last day of the benefit week ending immediately before the day on which the offender attains the age of 60.

    (7) In this regulation - 



PART II

REDUCED AMOUNTS

Reduction of income support
     4.  - (1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), any payment of income support which falls to be made to an offender in respect of any week in the prescribed period shall be reduced - 

of the relevant amount applicable on the first day of the prescribed period under paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 2 to the Income Support Regulations in respect of a single claimant for income support.

    (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), whether or not a person is a member of the offender's family shall be determined in accordance with section 137(1) of the Benefits Act and Part III of the Income Support Regulations.

    (3) Payment shall not be reduced under paragraph (1) below 10 pence per week.

    (4) 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.

    (5) Where the rate of income support payable to an offender changes, the rules set out above for a reduction in the benefit payable shall be applied to the new rates and any adjustment to the reduction shall take effect from the beginning of the first benefit week to commence for the offender following the change.

Reduction of joint-claim jobseeker's allowance
    
5.  - (1) In respect of any part of the prescribed period for which section 63(2) of the Act does not apply but subject to paragraph (2), the reduced rate of joint-claim jobseeker's allowance payable to the member of that couple who is not the offender for the prescribed period shall be - 

    (2) Paragraph (1) shall only apply to the extent that the member of the joint-claim couple who is not the offender is not also subject to sanctions for the purposes of section 20A of the Jobseekers Act.



PART III

HARDSHIP

Meaning of "person in hardship"
     6.  - (1) In this Part of these Regulations, a "person in hardship" means, for the purposes of regulation 7, an offender, other than an offender to whom paragraph (3) or (4) applies where - 

    (2) Except in a case to which paragraph (3) or (4) applies, an offender shall, for the purposes of regulation 8, be deemed to be a person in hardship where, after taking account of the factors set out in paragraph (5) in so far as they are appropriate to the particular circumstances of the case, the Secretary of State is satisfied that he or his partner will suffer hardship unless a jobseeker's allowance is paid to him.

    (3) In paragraphs (1) and (2), the offender shall not be deemed to be a person in hardship - 

    (4) Paragraph (1)(h) shall not apply in a case where the person being cared for resides in a residential care home or nursing home.

    (5) Factors which, for the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), the Secretary of State is to take into account in determining whether the offender is a person in hardship are - 

    (6) In determining the resources available to the offender's family under paragraph (5)(b), any training premium or top-up payment paid pursuant to the Employment and Training Act 1973[19] shall be disregarded.

Circumstances in which an income-based jobseeker's allowance is payable to an offender who is a person in hardship
     7.  - (1) This regulation applies to a person in hardship within the meaning of regulation 6(1) and is subject to the provisions of regulations 9 and 10.

    (2) An income-based jobseeker's allowance shall be payable to a person in hardship even though section 62(2) of the Act prevents payment of a jobseeker's allowance to him but the allowance shall be payable only if and for so long as he satisfies the conditions for entitlement to an income-based jobseeker's allowance.

Further circumstances in which an income-based jobseeker's allowance is payable to an offender who is a person in hardship
    
8.  - (1) This regulation applies to a person in hardship within the meaning of regulation 6(2) and is subject to the provisions of regulations 9 and 10.

    (2) An income-based jobseeker's allowance shall be payable to a person in hardship even though section 62(2) of the Act prevents payment of a jobseeker's allowance to him but the allowance - 

Conditions for payment of income-based jobseeker's allowance
    
9.  - (1) An income-based jobseeker's allowance shall not be payable in accordance with regulation 7 or 8 except where the offender has - 

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

Provision of information
    
10. For the purposes of section 62(4)(b) of the Act, the offender shall provide to the Secretary of State information as to the circumstances of the person alleged to be in hardship.

Applicable amount in hardship cases
    
11.  - (1) The weekly applicable amount of a person to whom an income-based jobseeker's allowance is payable in accordance with this Part shall be reduced by a sum equivalent to 40% or, in a case where the offender or any other member of his family is either pregnant or seriously ill, 20% of the following amount - 

    (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.



PART IV

HARDSHIP FOR JOINT-CLAIM COUPLES

Meaning of "couple in hardship"
    
12.  - (1) In this Part of these Regulations, a "couple in hardship" means, for the purposes of regulation 13, a joint-claim couple, other than a couple to whom paragraph (3) or (4) applies, who are claiming a joint-claim jobseeker's allowance jointly where at least one member of that couple is an offender and where - 

    (2) Except in a case to which paragraph (3) or (4) applies, a joint-claim couple shall, for the purposes of regulation 14, be deemed to be a couple in hardship where the Secretary of State is satisfied, after taking account of the factors set out in paragraph (5) 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 joint-claim couple shall not be deemed to be a couple in hardship - 

    (4) Paragraph (1)(e) shall not apply in a case where the person being cared for resides in a residential care or nursing home.

    (5) 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 - 

    (6) In determining the resources available to the offender's family under paragraph (5)(b), any training premium or top-up payment paid pursuant to the Employment and Training Act 1973 shall be disregarded.

Circumstances in which a joint-claim jobseeker's allowance is payable where a joint-claim couple is a couple in hardship
     13.  - (1) This regulation applies where a joint-claim couple is a couple in hardship within the meaning of regulation 12(1) and is subject to the provisions of regulations 15 and 16.

    (2) A joint-claim jobseeker's allowance shall be payable to a couple in hardship even though section 63(2) of the Act prevents payment of a joint-claim jobseeker's allowance to the couple or section 63(3) of the Act reduces the amount of a joint-claim jobseeker's allowance payable to the couple but the allowance shall be payable only if and for so long as - 

Further circumstances in which a joint-claim jobseeker's allowance is payable to a couple in hardship
    
14.  - (1) This regulation applies to a couple in hardship falling within regulation 12(2) and is subject to the provisions of regulations 15 and 16.

    (2) A joint-claim jobseeker's allowance shall be payable to a couple in hardship even though section 63(2) of the Act prevents payment of a joint-claim jobseeker's allowance to them or section 63(3) of the Act reduces the amount of a joint-claim jobseeker's allowance payable to them but the allowance - 

Conditions for payment of a joint-claim jobseeker's allowance
    
15.  - (1) A joint-claim jobseeker's allowance shall not be payable in accordance with regulation 13 or 14 except where either member of the couple has - 

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

Provision of information
    
16. For the purposes of section 63(4)(b) of the Act, a member of the couple shall provide to the Secretary of State information as to the circumstances of the alleged hardship of the couple.

Applicable amount of joint-claim couple in hardship cases
    
17.  - (1) The weekly applicable amount of a couple to whom a joint-claim jobseeker's allowance is payable in accordance with this Part shall be reduced by a sum equivalent to 40% or, in a case where a member of the joint-claim couple is either pregnant or seriously ill or where a member of the joint-claim couple is a member of a polygamous marriage and one of those members is either pregnant or seriously ill, 20% of the following amount - 

    (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.



PART V

INFORMATION

Notification at the time of the laying of the information
    
18. As soon as practicable after an information has been laid in England and Wales which could result in a determination the making of which would result in the imposition by or under one or both of sections 62 and 63 of the Act of any restrictions, the chief officer of the local probation board or other person acting on his behalf shall notify the Secretary of State in writing of - 

Notification at the time of making the determination
    
19. As soon as practicable after a court has determined that there has been a failure, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the requirements of a relevant community order, the chief officer of the local probation board or other person acting on his behalf shall notify the Secretary of State in writing of - 

Notification where determination is set aside
    
20. As soon as practicable after a court has quashed or set aside a determination by that or any other court that there has been a failure, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the requirements of a relevant community order, the chief officer of the local probation board or other person acting on his behalf shall notify the Secretary of State in writing of - 

Use or supply of information for other purposes
    
21. Information relating to community orders or social security which is either held by the Secretary of State as at the date on which these Regulations come into force or which subsequently comes into existence, may be used or supplied by the Secretary of State, in so far as it relates to sections 62 to 65 of the Act, for the purposes of research, monitoring or evaluation or for the purpose of maintaining statistics.



Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Social Security.


Angela Eagle
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security

5th April 2001



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)


These Regulations are made by virtue of, or in consequence of, sections 62 to 65 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19) ("the Act") and relate to restrictions in payment of certain benefits where a person has been found by a court to have breached a community service order.

The Regulations are made before the end of the period of six months beginning with the coming into force of the relevant provisions in the Act and are therefore exempt from the requirement in section 172(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5) to refer proposals to make these Regulations to the Social Security Advisory Committee and are made without reference to that Committee.

Part I contains provisions relating to citation, commencement and interpretation. It also prescribes what payment under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973 (c. 50) is to be a relevant benefit for the purposes of these provisions. Regulation 3 prescribes the period of the loss or reduction of benefit by reference to whether the offender was entitled to benefit on the day on which the Secretary of State examines his records pursuant to a notification that a Court has made a relevant determination in respect of him or whether he claims such a benefit within four weeks of that day.

Part II prescribes what are to be the reduced amounts of income support or joint-claim jobseeker's allowance when the restrictions apply.

Part III makes provision for jobseeker's allowance to be paid where the offender is a person in hardship and Part IV makes provision for a joint-claim jobseeker's allowance to be paid where a joint-claim couple are a couple in hardship.

Part V makes provision in relation to exchanges of information which are necessary to enable the system to operate and for evaluation and monitoring purposes.

These Regulations do not impose a charge on business.


Notes:

[1] 2000 c. 19.back

[2] Section 62(8) is cited because of the meaning ascribed to "relevant benefit" in relation to payments under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973 (c. 50). Section 65(1) is cited because of the meaning ascribed to the word "prescribed".back

[3] 1992 c. 5; section 189 is applied to regulations made under sections 62 to 64 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 by section 65(5) of that Act.back

[4] Section 73 added sections 62 to 65 of that Act to the list of "relevant enactments" in respect of which regulations must normally be referred to the Committee. See however section 173(5)(a) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.back

[5] 1992 c. 4.back

[6] 1995 c. 18.back

[7] S.I. 1987/1967.back

[8] S.I. 1996/207.back

[9] 2000 c. 43.back

[10] 1973 c. 50.back

[11] The definition was inserted by S.I. 2001/1029.back

[12] The definition was inserted by S.I. 2001/1029.back

[13] The relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1997/2863 and 2001/1029.back

[14] Paragraph 60 was inserted by S.I. 1998/1174 and amended by S.I. 2001/1029.back

[15] The definition was amended by S.I. 1988/1445.back

[16] The definition was amended by S.I. 1996/1517 and 2538.back

[17] Section 4(3A) was inserted by section 59 of, and paragraph 5(3) of Schedule 7 to, the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30).back

[18] 1989 c. 41.back

[19] 1973 c. 50.back

[20] Section 3A was inserted by section 59 of, and paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 7 to, the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30).back

[21] 1989 c. 41.back



ISBN 0 11 029277 4


 © Crown copyright 2001

Prepared 12 April 2001


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URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/legis/num_reg/2001/20011395.html