Universal Credit Regulations 2013

holisticsaver

I'm trying to seek more clarification on deviations of the Minimum Income Threshold for self-employed lone-parents with children under the age of 13. From what I can understand the MIT is set at 35 X NMW unless the claimant meets the requirements for the lesser number of hours as per the UC Reg 88, Paragraph 2. (See below.) However no definition of lesser hours is given? The regulation implies that the claimant will have to satisfy the Secretary of State in meeting those requirements? How will that work?

Expected hours
88.—(1) The “expected number of hours per week” in relation to a claimant for the purposes of
determining their individual threshold in regulation 90 or for the purposes of regulation 95 or 97 is
35 unless some lesser number of hours applies under paragraph (2).
(2) The lesser number of hours is—
(a) where—
(i) the claimant is a relevant carer, a responsible carer or a responsible foster parent, and
(ii) the Secretary of State is satisfied that the claimant has reasonable prospects of
obtaining paid work,
the number of hours that the Secretary of State considers is compatible with those caring
responsibilities;
(b) where the claimant is a responsible carer for a child under the age of 13, the number of
hours that the Secretary of State considers is compatible with the child’s normal school
hours (including the normal time it takes the child to travel to and from school); or
(c) where the claimant has a physical or mental impairment, the number of hours that the
Secretary of State considers is reasonable in light of the impairment.

Does anyone know if these "lesser hours" have been defined as I have been unable to gain clarification on this?
Many thanks