If you're of working age but unemployed and actively seeking work, you may be able to get Jobseeker's Allowance.
If you’re out of work or working less than 16 hours a week on average, you may be able to get Jobseeker's Allowance.
You must also be:
You can’t usually get Jobseeker's Allowance if you’re:
There are two types of Jobseeker's Allowance, 'contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance' and 'income-based Jobseeker's Allowance'.
You may get this if you’ve paid, or are treated as having paid, enough National Insurance contributions (NICs) over the last two tax years. Jobcentre Plus can pay this for up to 182 days. Generally, self-employed contributions will not help you qualify for contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
You may get this if you haven’t paid enough NICs (or you’ve only paid contributions for self-employment) and you’re on a low income.
Jobseeker's Allowance is paid at the end of every fortnight. It's paid straight into your bank or building society account. This is the best way to get your benefit because you can choose how and when to take your money out of your account.
If you’re a man aged over 60
If you’re a man aged 60 to 64, you may prefer to apply for Pension Credit instead of Jobseeker's Allowance.
JSA for 16 and 17 year olds
If you're an unemployed 16 or 17 year old you may be able to get income-based JSA for a short period if for example any of the following circumstances apply to you:
You can also find out if you're eligible for Young Person's Bridging Allowance (YPBA).
Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance for England, Wales and Scotland
You get a flat weekly rate according to your age (as at January 2010):
| Age | Amount |
|---|---|
|
18 - 24 |
£50.95 |
|
25 or over |
£64.30 |
Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance for Northern Ireland
| Age | Amount |
|---|---|
|
16 - 24 |
£50.95 |
|
25 or over |
£64.30 |
Your payments might be reduced if you're getting a pension of more than £50 a week, or delayed if you're getting final payments from your last job.
The maximum weekly rates are:
| Status | Amount |
|---|---|
|
Single people aged 18 (16 in Northern Ireland) - 24 |
£50.95 |
|
Single people aged 25 or over |
£64.30 |
|
Couples and civil partnerships (both aged 18 or over) |
£100.95 |
|
Lone parents (aged under 18) |
£50.95 |
|
Lone parents (aged 18 or over) |
£64.30 |
Your payments might be reduced if you receive income from part-time employment. You’ll get less if you have savings over £6,000. If you have savings over £16,000 you probably won’t qualify.
Your payments might also be reduced if you're getting an occupational or personal pension. For contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobcentre Plus do not take into account the first £50 of your pension.
If your partner or civil partner works 24 hours or more a week on average, you can’t usually get income-based JSA (contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance isn’t affected). If they work less than 24 hours, it may affect how much you get.
In some areas you can claim by telephone and be sent a statement recording the details you've given and an appointment to attend an interview.
In other areas you'll be given a claim form to fill in and take to the Jobcentre Plus office when you attend a New Jobseeker Interview.
You can also claim online, at www.direct.gov.uk.
Or, you can get a claim form at your local Jobcentre Plus office.
When you claim Jobseeker's Allowance, you'll need to attend an interview at the Jobcentre. This is called a 'new jobseeker interview’. You’ll be asked to bring the claim form to a New Jobseeker Interview. An adviser will explain how Jobseeker's Allowance works and draw up a ‘Jobseeker’s Agreement’ with you, showing:
You must tell your local Jobcentre Plus as soon as possible about any changes in your circumstances like:
If you’re unhappy about the content of the ‘Jobseeker's Agreement’, you can ask the office that dealt with your claim to look again at their decision. If you’re still unhappy with the outcome, you can appeal.
You can ask for an explanation or reconsideration of every decision, but some benefit decisions cannot be appealed. For example, you can't appeal against decisions on Budgeting Loans, Community Care Grants or Crisis Loans. The decision letter will make it clear if it can't be appealed.
You have one month:
A late appeal may be accepted if you have special circumstances that prevented you appealing in time, but not if more than 13 months have passed.
Information on how to appeal is normally included in the decision letter.
If you’re still out of work after six months, you’ll be asked to attend a ‘restart interview’. Depending on your age and situation, you may change to another scheme like New Deal.
If you look after a child whose parent lives elsewhere
If you’re bringing up a child whose parent lives elsewhere, your claim for income-based Jobseeker's Allowance may be treated as an application for child maintenance.
Jobcentre Plus can tell you about the extra help you might be able to get, depending on your circumstances and what’s available in your local area. This can include:
If you don’t qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance under the normal rules, you may still get reduced payments under ‘hardship provision’.
You’ll have to prove that someone in your family will suffer if you don’t get Jobseeker's Allowance. It may be a few weeks before payments begin, unless you’re in a vulnerable group.
Your local Jobcentre Plus office or Jobcentre in Northern Ireland can tell you more about hardship provision.
On 6 April 2010, regulations providing sanctions for failing to attend interviews came into force.
The benefit will not be paid for at least one week and up to a maximum of two weeks if you:
Your entitlement to the benefit will end if you:
You must, if requested to do so, provide a signed declaration stating that since you have been claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance or since you last provided a similar declaration:
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