Citation and commencement

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Employment and Support Allowance (Amendment of Linking Rules) Regulations 2012.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 1st May 2012 immediately after the commencement of the Employment and Support Allowance (Duration of Contributory Allowance) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2012(6).

Amendment to the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 1999

2. In regulation 3(5F)(a) of the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 1999(7) (revision of decisions) omit "and (2)".

Amendments to the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006

3. In Schedule 3 to the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006(8) (applicable amounts)-

(a)in paragraph 28(1)(b) for "104" substitute "12";

(b)insert "and" at the end of paragraph 28(1)(c);

(c)omit paragraph 28(1)(d); and

(d)for paragraph 29(1)(c) substitute-�

"(c)at the date on which the relevant person again becomes entitled to an employment and support allowance which is not income-related, regulation 145(1) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations applies to the relevant person; and".

Amendments to the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006

4. In Schedule 1 to the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006(9) (applicable amounts)-

(a)in paragraph 28(1)(b) for "104" substitute "12";

(b)insert "and" at the end of paragraph 28(1)(c);

(c)omit paragraph 28(1)(d); and

(d)for paragraph 29(1)(c) substitute-�

"(c)at the date on which the relevant person again becomes entitled to an employment and support allowance which is not income-related, regulation 145(1) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations applies to the relevant person; and".

Amendments to the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008

5.-(1) The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008(10) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation) omit the definition of "work or training beneficiary".

(3) In regulation 5(11) (the assessment phase -� previous claimants)-

(a)in paragraph (2)(a)(i) omit "or (2)"; and

(b)for paragraph (2)(b) substitute-�

"(b)(i)the claimant's current period of limited capability for work is to be treated as a continuation of an earlier period of limited capability for work under regulation 145(1),

(ii)the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance in the earlier period of limited capability for work,

(iii)the previous period of limited capability for work was terminated by virtue of a determination that the claimant did not have limited capability for work,

(iv)the period for which the claimant was previously entitled was no more than 13 weeks, and

(v)a determination is made in relation to the current period of limited capability for work that the claimant has or is treated as having limited capability for work, other than under regulation 30; or

(c)(i)the claimant's current period of limited capability for work is to be treated as a continuation of an earlier period of limited capability for work under regulation 145(1),

(ii)the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance in the earlier period of limited capability for work,

(iii)in relation to the previous award of an employment and support allowance, a determination was made that the claimant had limited capability for work or was treated as having limited capability for work, other than under regulation 30, and

(iv)the period for which the claimant was previously entitled was no more than 13 weeks.".

(4) In regulation 7(12) (circumstances where the condition that the assessment phase has ended before entitlement to the support component or the work-related activity component arises does not apply)-

(a)for paragraph (1)(b) substitute-�

"(b)the case is a relevant linked case;"; and

(b)after paragraph (1) insert-�

"(1A) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) a relevant linked case is a case mentioned in paragraph (1B) where a period of limited capability for work is to be treated as a continuation of an earlier period of limited capability for work under regulation 145(1).

(1B) Paragraph (1A) applies to the following cases-

(a)case 1 is where-�

(i)the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance (including entitlement to a component under sections 2(2), 2(3), 4(4) or 4(5) of the Act) in the earlier period of limited capability for work, and

(ii)the previous period for which the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance was terminated other than by virtue of a determination that the claimant did not have limited capability for work;

(b)case 2 is where-�

(i)the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance in the earlier period of limited capability for work,

(ii)the previous period for which the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance was 13 weeks or longer,

(iii)the previous period for which the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance was terminated by virtue of a determination that the claimant did not have, or was treated as not having, limited capability for work, and

(iv)it is determined in relation to the current period of limited capability for work that the claimant has limited capability for work or is treated as having limited capability for work, other than under regulation 30;

(c)case 3 is where-�

(i)the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance in the earlier period of limited capability for work,

(ii)the previous period for which the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance was 13 weeks or longer,

(iii)the previous period for which the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance was terminated before it could be determined whether the claimant had limited capability for work or was treated as having limited capability for work, other than under regulation 30, and

(iv)it is determined in relation to the current period of limited capability for work that the claimant has limited capability for work or is treated as having limited capability for work, other than under regulation 30; and

(d)case 4 is where-�

(i)the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance (including entitlement to a component under sections 2(2), 2(3), 4(4) or 4(5) of the Act) in the earlier period of limited capability for work,

(ii)the previous period for which the claimant was entitled to an employment and support allowance was terminated because it was determined that the claimant did not have limited capability for work or was treated as not having limited capability for work, and

(iii)it is determined in relation to the current period of limited capability for work that the claimant has limited capability for work or is treated as having limited capability for work, other than under regulation 30.".

(5) After regulation 35 (certain claimants to be treated as having limited capability for work-related activity) insert-

"Relevant linked cases -� limited capability for work-related activity

35A. A claimant is to be treated as having limited capability for work-related activity where-�

(a)they fall within case 1, as defined in regulation 7(1B)(a); and

(b)in respect of the earlier period of limited capability for work referred to in regulation 7(1B)(a)(i), they had been entitled to a support component under sections 2(2) or 4(4) of the Act.".

(6) In regulation 145 (linking rules) omit paragraphs (2) to (5).

(7) Omit regulations-

(a)148(13) (work or training beneficiaries);

(b)149(14) (linking rules -� limited capability for work); and

(c)150(15) (linking rules -� limited capability for work-related activity).

(8) After paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 6 (housing costs) insert-

"(3A) For the purposes of this Schedule a claimant is a "work or training beneficiary" on any day in a linking term where the claimant-

(a)had limited capability for work-�

(i)for more than 13 weeks in the most recent past period of limited capability for work; or

(ii)for 13 weeks or less in the most recent past period of limited capability for work where the claimant became entitled to an award of an employment and support allowance by virtue of a conversion decision which took effect from the commencement of the most recent past period of limited capability for work;

(b)ceased to be entitled to an allowance or advantage at the end of that most recent past period of limited capability for work; and

(c)became engaged in work or training within one month of so ceasing to be entitled.

(3B) A claimant is not a work or training beneficiary if-�

(a)the most recent past period of limited capability for work was ended by a determination that the claimant did not have limited capability for work; and

(b)that determination was on the basis of a limited capability for work assessment.

(3C) In sub-paragraphs (3A) and (3B)-

"allowance or advantage" means any allowance or advantage under the Act or the Contributions and Benefits Act for which entitlement is dependent on limited capability for work;

"conversion decision" has the meaning given in regulation 5(2)(a) of the Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No. 2) Regulations 2010(16);

"linking term" means a period of 104 weeks from the first day immediately following the last day in a period of limited capability for work;

"most recent past period of limited capability for work" means the period of limited capability for work which most recently precedes the period in respect of which the current claim is made, including any period of which that previous period is treated as a continuation by virtue of regulation 145(1) (linking rules); and

"work" means work, other than work under regulation 45 (exempt work), for which payment is made or which is done in expectation of payment.".

Amendments to the Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No. 2) Regulations 2010

6. In regulation 21(5) of the Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No. 2) Regulations 2010(17) (termination of transitional addition) -

(a)in sub-paragraph (a) omit "or (2)"; and

(b)for sub-paragraph (c) substitute-�

"(c)in respect of that earlier period, it was terminated-�

(i)other than by virtue of a determination that T did not have, or was treated as not having, limited capability for work, or

(ii)by virtue of a determination that the claimant did not have, or was treated as not having, limited capability for work, and, in respect of that subsequent claim, it is determined that T has, or is treated as having, limited capability for work, other than under regulation 30 of the 2008 Regulations.".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend a number of provisions relating to employment and support allowance ("ESA").

They clarify the operation of the linking rule in regulation 145(1) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/794) ("the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations") applying in relation to claims for ESA. They also make amendments which relate to, or are consequential upon, the revocation of the linking rule in regulation 145(2) of those Regulations ("the old linking rule"). That rule had provided that where a claimant is a work or training beneficiary, any period of limited capability for work which is separated from another such period by not more than 104 weeks is to be treated as a continuation of the earlier period.

Regulation 2 amends the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/991) ("the Decisions and Appeals Regulations") by removing the reference to the old linking rule from regulation 3(5F) of the Decisions and Appeals Regulations. Regulation 3(5F) as amended enables the Secretary of State to revise a decision where (i) a person's current period of limited capability for work is treated as a continuation of another such period under the linking rule in regulation 145(1) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations and (ii) regulation 7(1)(b) of the Employment and Support Regulations applies. Regulation 7(1)(b) is substituted by regulation 5(4)(a) of these Regulations and, with regulation 7(1A) and (1B) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations, provides for a number of exceptions to the general rule that the assessment phase must have ended before entitlement arises to the work-related activity or support components of ESA.

Regulation 3 amends Schedule 3 to the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/213) to make consequential amendments removing references to the old linking rule. Regulation 4 makes similar amendments to the corresponding provisions in the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/215).

Regulation 5 amends the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations.

Paragraph (2) omits the definition of "work or training beneficiary" from regulation 2(1).

Paragraph (3) amends regulation 5, principally to provide for two specific circumstances in which the assessment phase for ESA ends.

Paragraph (4) amends regulation 7 in order to provide for four specific exceptions to the rule that the assessment phase has to have ended before entitlement arises to the work-related activity or support components of ESA.

Paragraph (5) inserts a new regulation 35A to provide that where a claimant falls into one of those specific exceptions (case 1) and they had previously been entitled to a support component, they are to be treated as having limited capability for work-related activity.

Paragraph (6) revokes the old linking rule along with the associated linking rules in regulation 145(3) to (5).

Paragraph (7) revokes regulations 148, 149 and 150. Regulation 148 defines "work or training beneficiary" and regulations 149 and 150 provide for the treatment of work or training beneficiaries as having limited capability for work or limited capability for work-related activity respectively.

Paragraph (8) inserts a definition of "work or training beneficiary" into paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 6 as a definition of that term is still necessary for the purposes of that Schedule (which relates to housing costs).

Regulation 6 amends regulation 21(5) of the Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No. 2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1907) ("the Reassessment Regulations"), consequential on the revocation of the old linking rule. Regulation 21 provides for the circumstances in which a transitional addition is terminated. A transitional addition is based on the difference between specified elements of a person's existing award (of incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance or income support on disability grounds) and specified elements of the ESA for which a claimant is entitled following their reassessment. Paragraph (b) substitutes a new sub-paragraph (c) which provides, with the rest of regulation 21(5) of the Reassessment Regulations, for a termination of the transitional addition to take effect as a suspension instead where a subsequent claim for ESA links to an earlier period of limited capability for work under regulation 145(1) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations.

A full impact assessment has not been published for this instrument as it has no direct impact on the private sector or civil society organisations.