Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

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Your JSA interview

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
  • biometric residence permit
  • 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

Sign an agreement to look for work (‘Claimant Commitment’)

At your JSA interview, you must sign 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.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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. 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