This paragraph inserts new paragraphs 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D into Schedule 1 to the Jobseekers Act 1995. These paragraphs contain powers to prescribe circumstances in which an award of joint-claim JSA should be treated as continuing in the form of an award of income-based JSA or contribution-based JSA; an award of joint-claim JSA should lapse; and in which an award of joint-claim JSA may be revived without the need for the claimants to make a new claim. Provision is also made to cater for cases where a claim has not yet been determined.
The various powers cater for JSA claimants who have a change of circumstance, which means they either cease to be a joint-claim couple or become a joint-claim couple. The underlying aim is to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy and ensure that joint-claim couples are treated in the same way as other JSA claimants, whilst at the same time being able to require a fresh claim where this is necessary.
It intended, for example, to use the power to continue an award where a couple in receipt of joint-claim JSA have a baby and so cease to be a joint-claim couple but still need to claim JSA.
Commentary Commentary Continuity of claims and awards