Relaxation of job seeking rules for homeless claimants

New regulations come into force on 21st July 2014 which will ease the conditions on homeless jobseekers to be looking for work.

The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Homeless Claimants) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2014 will allow jobseekers who have recently become homeless to be treated as available for employment whilst they are trying to access new accommodation. In order to fall under this criteria, homeless jobseekers will have to show that they are taking reasonable steps to find new living accommodation.

This change has been broadly welcomed by homelessness charities as it will provide extra support for people who are homeless and looking for work by giving such persons a period of time to sort out their housing situation before being required to carry out job seeking activities.

Domestic emergency

Under the regulations, Jobcentre Plus staff (work coaches) can decide whether the claimant’s homelessness is a ‘domestic emergency’; in which case the easement can apply for as long as their circumstances constitute a domestic emergency. It is not anticipated that the easement should last for more than four weeks in any 12 month period, but this will be decided on the circumstances of each individual case.

The easement will mean that a homeless claimant will not have to be:
•    Available for work,
•    Actively seeking work,
•    Subject to a Jobseeker’s Direction, or
•    Participating in a Work Programme.