New paragraph 8A(2) of Schedule 1 to the Jobseekers Act provides for regulations to prescribe circumstances in which a couple is entitled to income-based JSA, without having made a joint claim for it. Such a couple will be called a transitional couple (defined as one where a member is entitled to income-based JSA on the coming into force of Schedule 7 to the Act).
The intention is that the couple will be treated as meeting JSA conditions of entitlement until the new claimant member of the couple is required to attend and provide information in connection with the joint claim.
Commentary Commentary Transition to a joint claim