These Regulations amend the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 in the case of claimants who are subject to a benefit sanction because it has been determined that they have failed to participate in a programme known as Steps to Work and who have previously been subject to benefit sanctions. Where a claimant agrees in writing to undertake the activities as required by the Steps to Work programme, the Regulations provide for the benefit sanction to last for either 4 weeks or for the period beginning with the determination and ending with the claimant’s agreement to comply with the relevant requirements for the programme (whichever is the longer). Otherwise the sanction will last for 26 weeks.
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