Commentary on Sections Part 1: Social security Section 23: Exemption from jobseeking conditions for victims of domestic violence
Section 23 inserts a new provision in Schedule 1 to the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, which relates to those who have been victims of, or threatened with, domestic violence. The Department will be required to exercise regulation-making powers to provide that victims of domestic violence will, for a period of 13 weeks, be able to start or continue a claim to jobseeker’s allowance without: being available for employment; having entered into a jobseeker’s agreement; or actively seeking employment. Regulations made by virtue of the new provision will be subject to the confirmatory procedure.