§ Paul GogginsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to extend joint claims for jobseeker's allowance to childless partners of unemployed people who are aged 45 or under. [76869]
§ Malcolm WicksFrom 28 October 2002 we shall extend the provision for Joint Claims for Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based) to include couples without dependent children where at least one partner was born after 28 October 1957 and is also aged 18 or over. Couples meeting the new joint claims criteria will be required to make a joint claim and meet the JSA conditions for benefit entitlement, in the same way as current joint claimants.