
1 
These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Contribution Conditions for Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 and shall come into operation on 1st January 2012.
2 
After regulation 45A of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (the contribution-based conditions and relevant earnings) insert—“
45B. 

(1) A claimant who also satisfies the condition in paragraph (2) is to be taken to satisfy the first set of conditions if the claimant has—
(a) paid Class 1 contributions before the relevant benefit week in respect of any one tax year; and
(b) earnings at the lower earnings limit in that tax year on which primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid which in total, and disregarding any earnings which exceed the lower earnings limit for that year, are not less than that limit multiplied by 26.
(2) The condition referred to in paragraph (1) is that the claimant, in respect of any week during the last complete tax year preceding the relevant benefit year, is entitled to be credited with earnings in accordance with regulation 9E of the Social Security (Credits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975 (credits for certain spouses and civil partners of members of Her Majesty’s forces).”.
3 
In regulation 8(2) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (relaxation of the first contribution condition) at the end of sub-paragraph (c) omit “or” and insert—“
(ca) in respect of any week in the last complete tax year preceding the relevant benefit year, is entitled to be credited with earnings in accordance with regulation 9E of the Social Security (Credits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1975 (credits for certain spouses and civil partners of members of Her Majesty’s forces); or”.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 21st December 2011
(L.S.)Anne McCleary
A senior officer of the Department for Social Development
