
2010 No. 346
Social Security
The Social Security (Contribution Conditions for Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Made 11th October 2010
Coming into operation 1st November 2010

The Department for Social Development makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 4(2A) and 36(2) of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, and now vested in it, and section 25(2) of, and paragraph 1(3) and (4) of Schedule 1 to, the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007.

This Rule contains only regulations made by virtue of, or consequential upon, sections 11 and 12 of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Citation and commencement
1 
These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Contribution Conditions for Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and come into operation on 1st November 2010.
Amendment of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations
2 
In Part III of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (other conditions of entitlement), before regulation 46 (waiting days) insert—“
The contribution-based conditions and relevant earnings
45A. 

(1) A claimant’s relevant earnings for the purposes of Article 4(2)(of the Order (the contribution-based conditions) are the total amount of the claimant’s earnings at the lower earnings limit for the base year.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), earnings which exceed the lower earnings limit are to be disregarded.”.
Amendment of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations
3 

(1) The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2) In Part 3 (conditions of entitlement – contributory allowance), before regulation 8 (relaxation of first contribution condition) insert—“
Conditions relating to national insurance and relevant earnings
7A. 

(1) A claimant’s relevant earnings for the purposes of paragraph 1(2)(of Schedule 1 to the Act (employment and support allowance: conditions relating to national insurance) are the total amount of the claimant’s earnings at the lower earnings limit for the base tax year.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), earnings which exceed the lower earnings limit are to be disregarded.”.
(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 11th October 2010
(L.S.)Anne McCleary
A senior officer of the Department for Social Development
