To be eligible for New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance ( JSA ) you’ll need to have both: worked as an employee paid Class 1 National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years You will not be eligible if you were self-employed and only paid Class 2 National Insurance contributions, unless you were working as a share fisherman or a volunteer development worker. There are different eligibility rules if you’re in Northern Ireland . You must also: be 18 or over be under the State Pension age be in Great Britain not be working 16 or more hours per week You will not be eligible if you’re involved in a disagreement with your employer about employment-related issues (a ‘trade dispute’). You will not be eligible if you have an illness or disability which stops you from working. Check if you can get Employment and Support Allowance instead. Your savings and your partner’s savings will not affect your claim. Your National Insurance contributions To be eligible you must usually have made Class 1 National Insurance contributions for the previous 2 tax years. National Insurance credits can count for one of these years if you did not pay National Insurance contributions. Example If you apply for JSA on or before 3 January 2026, you must have paid or been credited with National Insurance in the tax years: 6 April 2023 to 5 April 2024 6 April 2022 to 5 April 2023 If you apply for JSA on or after 4 January 2026, you must have paid or been credited with National Insurance in the tax years: 6 April 2024 to 5 April 2025 6 April 2023 to 5 April 2024 You might be eligible based on contributions from different tax years if, during the previous 2 tax years, you have: claimed JSA , Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Carer’s Allowance, Maternity Allowance or Carer Support Payment lived abroad with your partner who is serving in the armed forces If you work You cannot usually get New Style JSA if you work 16 or more hours per week. Your earnings can reduce the amount of New Style JSA you get. Check what you need to tell your work coach if you or your partner do any work while you’re getting New Style JSA . If you’re in education If you’re studying part-time you may be eligible for JSA . If you’re studying full-time, you may be eligible if all of the following apply: the qualification you’re studying for is at Level 4 or below you do not get a maintenance loan, grant or bursary for the qualification you’re studying you can meet the work-related requirements agreed with your work coach Claiming Universal Credit and New Style JSA You might be able to get Universal Credit at the same time or instead of New Style JSA . If you get both benefits, your New Style JSA payments: count as income when claiming Universal Credit will reduce the amount of Universal Credit you receive Your New Style JSA will usually be paid more regularly than Universal Credit. You’ll also get different National Insurance credits which count towards your State Pension and help you qualify for other benefits. Check if you’re eligible for Universal Credit .

If you’re invited to an interview, you must attend. It will be at your local Jobcentre Plus office. You’ll be asked some questions to confirm your identity and then you’ll make an agreement about what steps you’ll take to look for work. Documents you need to bring to your interview You’ll need to bring all of the following: one photographic proof of identity one proof of address one further proof of identity If you have a P45 from your employer , bring this to your interview. When you present it, tell your work coach if you’ve already received or claimed a tax refund from HMRC for the current tax year. You can also use your P45 as your further proof of identity. Photographic proof of identity Examples include your: current passport driving licence eVisa certificate of naturalisation as a British citizen permanent residence permit Proof of address Examples include a: payslip or pension statement dated within the last 6 months utility bill dated within the last 6 months Council Tax bill dated within the last 6 months student loan documentation Further proof of identity Examples include your: P60 savings account book personal cheque book current debit, credit or store card with a statement confirming the card details Utility bills can be used for proof of address and as further proof of identity if they are from different suppliers. Read the complete list of documents you can bring to your interview . Support at your interview You can take someone with you to your JSA interview. Contact your Jobcentre Plus before the interview if you need: support because of a disability or health condition (for example, if you’re deaf and need a sign language interpreter) a foreign language interpreter and do not have someone who can help with interpretation Accept an agreement to look for work (‘Claimant Commitment’) At your JSA interview, you must accept an agreement about what steps you’ll take to look for a job. This is called a ‘Claimant Commitment’. You and your work coach will agree what goes in your Claimant Commitment. This could include: what you need to do to look for work - for example registering with recruitment agencies, writing a CV how many hours you need to spend looking for work each week What you agree to do will depend on things like: your health your responsibilities at home how much help you need to get work or increase your income Your JSA might be reduced or stopped if you do not do what you’ve agreed to in your Claimant Commitment and you cannot give a good reason After your JSA interview The Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) will write to you to either: let you know you are eligible for JSA and how much you’ll get explain why you’re not eligible for JSA You will not need to do what you’ve agreed in your Claimant Commitment if you’re not eligible for JSA .

When you apply to claim JSA , your work coach will make an agreement with you to look for work. This agreement is called a ‘Claimant Commitment’. Your Claimant Commitment could include: what you need to do to look for work - for example registering with recruitment agencies or writing a CV how many hours you need to spend looking for work each week You should continue to do all the things you have agreed to do if you can do them safely. You can search and apply for work using the ‘Find a job’ service . You must tell Jobcentre Plus if your circumstances change , for example you start working or your income changes. Attending regular appointments Your work coach will arrange appointments with you every 1 to 2 weeks. At these appointments, you must show your work coach what you’ve been doing to look for work, for example proof of job applications and interviews. If you’re a victim of domestic abuse you might be able to get a break of up to 13 weeks from job seeking - speak to your work coach if you need this support. When payment can be reduced or stopped Your JSA payments can be reduced or stopped for a period if you do not do something your work coach asks you to do. This is called being ‘sanctioned’. For example, if you: do not take part in an appointment with your work coach do not accept or keep to your agreement to look for work turn down a job or training course do not apply for any jobs you’re told about do not take part in any interviews you’re invited to do not go to any training booked for you or take part in employment schemes You may also be sanctioned if you: are not available to start work straight away choose to take a pay cut at your current job without a good reason have your pay cut at your current job because of something you did, such as your behaviour leave your last job or training without good reason or because of your behaviour Contact Jobcentre Plus as soon as possible if any of these apply to you. You may be able to keep your payment if you have good reason. You’ll be told how long your payment will be reduced or stopped for. It could be for up to 26 weeks (about 6 months). If you want to know how long your JSA payment could be reduced or stopped for, read part 3 or part 4 of the guidance on JSA sanctions . If your JSA payment is reduced or stopped If your payment is reduced or stopped, you should keep looking for work. Your benefit payment could be affected for longer if you do not. If you disagree with the decision to stop payment, you can ask for the decision to be looked at again - this is called ‘mandatory reconsideration’. If you disagree with the outcome of the mandatory reconsideration, you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal . You should continue with any JSA claim until the dispute is settled. If you claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction You should contact your local council immediately. They’ll tell you what to do to continue getting support.

Report a change of circumstances

You must tell Jobcentre Plus if your circumstances change, for example you start working or your income changes. This might affect how much Jobseekers’ Allowance ( JSA ) you get. If you get more than one benefit, you’ll need to report your change to each benefit office. This page does not cover every change you must report. Call Jobcentre Plus if you’re not sure whether you need to report a change. Your claim might be reduced or stopped if you do not report a change straight away. If you get New Style JSA , you must report if you: change your name, address, bank details or telephone number become ill or go into hospital start or stop caring for someone start or stop education, training or an apprenticeship start a job, including self-employment do any paid, unpaid or voluntary work, even if it is only for a few hours start getting, stop getting, or get a different amount of other benefits or pensions leave Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for any period of time go on holiday, including holidays in Great Britain How to report You can report a change of circumstances by: calling the JSA helpline writing to the Jobcentre Plus office that pays your JSA - the address is on the letters you get about your JSA If your partner or someone you live with has died, you can tell Jobcentre Plus and other government organisations in one go using the Tell Us Once service . New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) helpline Telephone: 0800 169 0310 Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0310 British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet Welsh language: 0800 328 1744 Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm Find out about call charges If you’re claiming Universal Credit as well as New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance ( JSA ), you must report changes to both services. If you’ve been paid too much If you do not report a change straight away or give wrong or incomplete information, you might be paid too much. If you are, you might have to pay some of the money back .

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

How it works

You can apply for New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) to help you when you’re looking for work.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You could get Universal Credit at the same time or instead of New Style JSA. Check if you’re eligible for Universal Credit.

Income-based JSA

You cannot apply for income-based JSA any more. You can apply for Universal Credit instead.

What you need to do

Check you’re eligible.
Make a claim for New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and go to an interview at your local Jobcentre Plus office.
Keep to your agreement to look for work. This agreement is called a ‘Claimant Commitment’ and you will create it at your interview.

Your JSA payments will be reduced or stopped if you do not keep to your agreement to look for work and cannot give a good reason.

What you’ll get

There’s a maximum amount you can get - but how much you’re entitled to depends on your age.

Use a benefits calculator to check how much JSA you can get, and how your other benefits will be affected.

Age	JSA weekly amount
Up to 24	up to £72.90
25 or over	up to £92.05

You can get JSA for up to 182 days (about 6 months). After this you can talk to your work coach about your options.

How you’re paid

All benefits, pensions and allowances are usually paid into your bank, building society or credit union account.

Your first payment

You may have to wait up to 7 days after applying for your JSA to start, and up to 2 weeks after that to get your first payment.

Your first payment may not be for the full amount.

After your first payment

Payments will usually be made every 2 weeks and they will be the full amount.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

How it works

Income-based JSA

What you need to do

What you’ll get

How you’re paid

Your first payment

After your first payment

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Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

How it works

Income-based JSA

What you need to do

What you’ll get

How you’re paid

Your first payment

After your first payment

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