Exemption from jobseeking requirements for victims of domestic violence

New commencement order in relation to the Welfare Reform Act 2009

18 January, 2012

A new commencement order has been published in relation to the exemption from jobseeking requirements for victims of domestic violence.

The Welfare Reform Act 2009 (Commencement No. 7) Order 2012 (SI.No.68/2012) provides that the day appointed for the coming into force of section 29 of the Welfare Reform Act 2009 (the Act) is 19th January 2012.

Section 29(1) inserts new paragraph 8B into Schedule 1 to the Act - paragraph 8B requires the Secretary of State to make regulations under sections 6(4), 7(4) and 9(10) of the Act providing for victims of domestic violence who are claiming jobseeker’s allowance to be treated as available for and actively seeking work for a set 13 week period, and if the claimant has not completed a jobseeker’s agreement before the 13 week period begins, to be treated as having entered into a jobseeker’s agreement which is in force for the 13 week period.

In addition, paragraph 8B enables the regulations to specify the circumstances in which domestic violence must have been inflicted or threatened in order for the exemption to apply; to prescribe the circumstances in which domestic violence is, or is not, to be regarded as having been inflicted or threatened; and to define 'domestic violence'.

SI.No.68/2012 is available from legislation.gov.uk