The DWP has issued new guidance in relation to new regulations that provide for an extension of the incapacity benefit work-focused interview regime.

DMG Memo 35/09 provides guidance on the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (SI.No.1541/2009) that, from 26 October 2009, principally provide for existing incapacity benefit claimants aged 18 to 24, who have been claiming continuously for 12 months or more and live in a Jobcentre Plus Pathways to Work area, to be required to attend 3 mandatory work-focused interviews.

In addition, the new regulations ensure that the policy intention of aligning the work-focused interview process for incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance claimants is achieved, by extending the scope of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews) Regulations 2008 to -

• those remaining claimants who are still subject to the lesser conditionality regime set out in the Social Security (Jobcentre Plus Interviews) Regulations 2002; and
• those who make a new claim for benefit on the basis of their incapacity (other than ESA) after 26 October 2008 and their eligibility links back to an earlier award of benefit because of the provisions of regulation 2(2) of the Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2008 (SI.No. 794/2008 & SI. No. 795/2008  Corrections to SI. No. 794/2008. SI. No. 787/2008)

DMG Memo 35/09 guidance is available here.

Other relevant information.

• Extension of the incapacity benefit work-focused interview regime in Northern Ireland: New statutory rule  (01 October, 2009)
• Extension of the incapacity benefit work-focused interview regime: New statutory instrument(25 June, 2009)