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Money, tax and benefits

Money, tax and benefits

Jobseeker's Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) is the main benefit for people of working age who are out of work.

Who is eligible?

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 be:

  • capable of working
  • available for work
  • actively seeking work
  • below state pension age

How does it work?

Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance

You may get contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance if you have paid or been credited with class 1 National Insurance (NI) contributions in the relevant tax years. Self employed contributions will not generally qualify you for contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance.

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

This is based on your income and savings. You may get this if you have not paid enough National Insurance contributions (NICs) (or you've only paid contributions for self-employment) and you're on a low income.

JSA for 16 and 17 year olds

If you're unemployed and 16 or 17 years old you may be able to get income-based JSA for a short amount of time. For example, this could be if you:

  • are forced to live away from your parents
  • will find it very hard to live without Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • are part of a couple responsible for a child

Contact your local Jobcentre Plus office for more information.

How much do you get?

Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance

You get a weekly rate according to your age:


Age Amount
16 - 24 £50.95
25 or over £64.30

Your payments might be reduced if you're getting a pension.

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

The maximum weekly rates are:


Status Amount
Single people aged 16 - 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 JSA isn't affected). If they work less than 24 hours, it may affect how much you get.

How to claim

Call 0800 055 6688 (8.00 am - 6.00 pm Monday to Friday). A textphone service is available if you have a speech or hearing impairment on 0800 023 4888.

You can also claim online using the 'Claim online - Jobseeker's Allowance' service provided by the Department for Work and Pensions, link below.

An adviser will explain how JSA works and draw up a 'jobseeker's agreement' with you, showing:

  • your availability for work
  • the kind of work you want and how you'll look for it
  • how you might improve your chances of finding a job
  • the help and support you'll get

You'll need to confirm your claim in person every two weeks, and your situation will be reviewed at regular interviews.

How it's paid

Jobseeker's Allowance is usually paid every two weeks in arrears by Direct Payment into your bank, building society, or National Savings account.

From April 2009 Jobcentre Plus are introducing changes to the day and how often you are paid Jobseeker's Allowance. The changes could move the day you are paid, this day will be determined by your National Insurance number. The changes also mean you will be paid at least every two weeks. For more information follow the link below.

What to do if your circumstances change

You must tell Jobcentre Plus as soon as possible about any changes in your circumstances. For example, this could be if you: 

  • move house
  • start any kind of work, training or a university or college course
  • become ill or go into hospital
  • go on holiday in Great Britain or abroad
  • gain capital (including savings and investments) for example property is left to you

In many cases you'll still be able to claim JSA, but if you don't report a change in circumstance you could lose your benefit.

How to appeal

You may ask for an explanation or apply for a reconsideration of any decision once it has been made. Information on how to appeal is normally included in the decision letter.

If you wish to appeal, ask for leaflet GL24DWP If you think the decision is wrong. You can pick up the leaflet at your local Jobcentre Plus office or download it, below, from the Jobcentre Plus website.

What else you need to know

Help for the newly unemployed, including professionals and executives

When you make your claim to JSA you will meet with a Jobcentre Plus personal adviser who will also talk to you about the extra help that might be available to overcome job hunting difficulties, for example:

  • access to specialist help for things like writing a CV, preparation for interviews, confidence building and work skills
  • help to look for work if you haven’t had experience of looking for a job for some time
  • help if you are seeking professional or executive jobs
  • help with your reading, with maths or with your English
  • information about how to get help with improving your skills, linked to local job opportunities
  • help with one-off expenses that might help you get back to work quickly, for example, the cost of buying formal clothes for an interview or basic tools such as paintbrushes needed to take up a job where an employer will not provide these items

This support will depend on your circumstances and what is available locally.

If you don't find work

If you’re still out of work after six months, you’ll be asked to attend a ‘restart interview’ with a personal adviser. The purpose of this meeting with your personal adviser is to make sure:

  • you are doing all you can to find work
  • Jobcentre Plus are giving you the help you need

Extra support at six months

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:

  • access to jobs where an employer receives £1,000 recruitment subsidy and in work training support depending on location
  • help to set up your own business or become self-employed, including financial help and specialist advice
  • the training that is available if you need to improve your skills or develop new ones that will increase your job prospects
  • voluntary work you could do while seeking full time work. Volunteering will help you keep your skills up to date or gain new skills and experience that will help you find and keep a job.

A range of leaflets are available that tell you more about the support and advice available to help you get back to work. These will be issued by your Jobcentre Plus adviser, or you can download them below.

If you're a man aged over 60

If you’re a man aged 60 to 64, you can ask Jobcentre Plus if you’d be better off claiming Pension Credit.

Hardship provision

You will not be able to get Jobseeker’s Allowance if you break the rules for getting this benefit. This could happen if you:

  • do not make yourself free for work
  • do not look for work and training
  • do not have a current jobseeker’s agreement

If your Jobseeker’s Allowance is stopped, you may be able to get a Jobseeker’s Allowance hardship payment. To do so you must be in a vulnerable group, for example, have children in your household or a health problem. If this does not apply you would need to wait two weeks before you can receive a hardship payment.

Your local Jobcentre Plus office can tell you more about hardship provision.

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