Notice to Providers
Notice to Employment Zone Providers
15 January 2009
The Lone Parents Obligations legislation was introduced on 24 November 2008. It requires certain lone parents whose youngest children are aged 12 and over to claim Jobseekers Allowance if they are capable of work. This note clarifies the guidance on lone parent EZ volunteers who lose their entitlement to Income Support (IS) and are not covered by the LPO transitions.
If a lone parent currently participating as a volunteer subsequently claims Jobseekers Allowance, Chapter 5, paragraphs 14 and 15 of the Provider Guide stipulate that:
- they could be referred back by Jobcentre Plus as early entrants but participation would be mandatory. Stage 1, as with other JSA customers, would be their starting point; and
- they can choose not to continue with the EZ participation and should be exited as leavers using form EZLP9;
Lone parents currently on Income Support who claim Jobseekers as a result of the implementation of Lone Parents Obligations would be treated the same as any existing JSA customers with respect to EZ participation. They could qualify for early entry or wait to be referred when they have claimed JSA for 6 or 18 months for 18-24 and 25 years and over, respectively. In either case, participation would be mandatory once the referral has been made. The lone parent's participation whilst in receipt of JSA cannot, therefore, be the same as if they were on Income Support.
Lone parents on Income Support will continue to participate voluntarily on EZ until further notice.
If you require any further information, please send your query to:
