Social Insurance (Guernsey) Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024

The Social Insurance (Guernsey) Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024

THE STATES, in pursuance of their Resolution of the 17^th October, 2023[a], and in exercise of the powers conferred on them by sections 115A and 116 of the Social Insurance (Guernsey) Law, 1978[b], and all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby order:-

Amendment of the Social Insurance Law: section 24.

1. (1) Section 24 (duration of unemployment benefit) of the Social Insurance (Guernsey) Law, 1978 ("the Social Insurance Law") is amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (4), insert –

"(5) The Committee may from time to time, by regulation, amend the references to an aggregate period of 30 weeks in subsection (1) and subsection (2) to an aggregate period of a number of weeks of no less than 10 and no more than 30.

(6) The Committee shall publish guidance on the States of Guernsey website regarding its exercise of the power conferred under subsection (5), and such guidance shall include the factors it shall take into account before deciding whether to exercise the power.".

Amendment of the Social Insurance Law: section 31.

2. (1) Section 31 (widowed parent's allowance) of the Social Insurance Law is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1) –

(a) after "late spouse", insert "or cohabiting partner", and

(b) in paragraph (b)(ii), at the end insert "or cohabiting partner".

(3) After subsection (3), insert –

"(4) In this section "cohabiting partner" means a person (P) with whom the claimant was co-habiting immediately before P's death as if they were married; and for the avoidance of doubt, any period when the claimant was not cohabiting with P while P was receiving medical or other end of life care shall be disregarded for the purposes of this definition.".

Extent.

3. This Ordinance has effect in the islands of Guernsey, Alderney, Herm and Jethou.

Citation.

4. This Ordinance may be cited as the Social Insurance (Guernsey) Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024.

Commencement.

5. This Ordinance shall come into force on such day as the Committee for Employment & Social Security may by regulation appoint, and different days may be appointed for different provisions or for different purposes.