Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

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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.

View a printable version of the whole guide

This page is Part of How to claim New Style Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA): step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if you're eligible

    1. Check if you're eligible

    You might also be eligible for Universal Credit.

    1. Find out about Universal Credit

  2. Step 2 Make a claim

    1. How to claim

  3. Step 3 Get your payment

    1. How and when you're paid

    If your claim is turned down or you're only eligible for National Insurance credits, you'll get a letter within 2 weeks explaining what to do next.

  4. Step 4 Report any change in your circumstances

    1. You are currently viewing: Tell Jobcentre Plus about any change in your circumstances

  5. Step 5 Check when you'll stop getting payments

    You'll be told when your payments are about to stop. If your circumstances do not change, this will be after 182 days.

    1. Get support from Jobcentre Plus when your payments stop