Jobseeker's Allowance: Who Qualifies, How Much, How to Apply

To get New Style JSA you need to have worked as an employee and paid Class 1 National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years. You must also:

• ✓Yes: be 18 or over
• ✓Yes: be under the State Pension age
• ✓Yes: be in Great Britain
• ✓Yes: not be working 16 or more hours per week

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. You will not be eligible if you are in a trade dispute with your employer.

If an illness or disability stops you from working, you cannot get New Style JSA, but you may be able to get New Style Employment and Support Allowance. Your savings and your partner's savings will not affect your claim.

You must usually have made Class 1 National Insurance contributions for the previous 2 tax years. National Insurance credits can count for one of those years if you did not pay contributions. GOV.UK gives these years as an example:

You might qualify on contributions from different tax years if, during the previous 2 tax years, you claimed JSA, Employment and Support Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Maternity Allowance or Carer Support Payment, or lived abroad with a partner serving in the armed forces.

There is a maximum amount, and how much you are entitled to depends on your age.

You may have to wait up to 7 days after applying for your JSA to start, and up to 2 weeks after that for your first payment, which may not be for the full amount. After that, payments are usually made every 2 weeks and are the full amount.

Your earnings and any pension you get can affect the amount. New Style JSA does not include extra amounts for children or for housing costs, but Universal Credit can include both.

You can get New Style JSA for up to 182 days, about 6 months. The Jobseekers Act 1995 sets that limit. After this, you can talk to your work coach about your options.

If you received JSA for the full 182 days, you may be able to get it again if it has been at least 12 weeks since your previous entitlement ended and your new claim is in a different benefit year. A benefit year is 12 months long and starts on the first Sunday in January.

You can claim New Style JSA on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit. DWP's guidance sets out what each benefit means in different situations:

If you get both, your New Style JSA counts as income for Universal Credit and reduces the amount of Universal Credit you receive. New Style JSA is usually paid more regularly than Universal Credit, and while you get it you are awarded Class 1 National Insurance credits, which can help towards your State Pension.

You can backdate your claim by up to 3 months in certain circumstances. To reclaim, you need to apply again, even if your details have not changed. If you disagree with a decision, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration.

Your Claimant Commitment could include what you need to do to look for work, such as registering with recruitment agencies or writing a CV, and how many hours you need to spend looking for work each week. What you agree depends on things like your health, your responsibilities at home and how much help you need.

Your work coach will arrange appointments every 1 to 2 weeks, and you must show what you have been doing to look for work, for example proof of job applications and interviews. If you are a victim of domestic abuse, you might be able to get a break of up to 13 weeks from job seeking.

You must tell Jobcentre Plus if your circumstances change, for example if you start working, do any paid, unpaid or voluntary work, or go on holiday. The New Style JSA helpline is 0800 169 0310, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. For Welsh, call 0800 328 1744.

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. GOV.UK gives these examples:

• ✗No: not taking part in an appointment with your work coach
• ✗No: not accepting or keeping to your agreement to look for work
• ✗No: turning down a job or training course
• ✗No: leaving your last job or training without good reason or because of your behaviour

If you disagree, ask for a mandatory reconsideration, and if you disagree with the outcome you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. Our guide to benefit sanctions explains good reason and how to challenge one.

You cannot usually get New Style JSA if you work 16 or more hours a week, and your earnings can reduce the amount you get. If you are studying part-time, you may be eligible.

If you are studying full-time, you may be eligible if the qualification is at Level 4 or below, you do not get a maintenance loan, grant or bursary for it, and you can meet the work-related requirements agreed with your work coach.

Scotland and Wales. If you live in Scotland or Wales, you contact Jobcentre Plus, as in England, and you must be in Great Britain.

Northern Ireland. nidirect gives the weekly amounts as up to £75.65 if you are under 25 and up to £95.55 if you are 25 or over. It says you must be available for work, not be in full-time education, and work less than 16 hours a week on average without earning more than £85.50 if you are 25 or older, or more than £66.70 if you are under 25.

In Northern Ireland you apply online, or contact the New Style Jobseeker's Allowance Processing Centre on 0800 022 4250. You will be phoned within five working days to arrange an interview at your Jobs & Benefits office. You may have to wait seven days at the start of your claim, and no benefit is paid for those days. If you disagree with the outcome of a mandatory reconsideration, you can appeal to the Appeals Service.

Our benefits guides cover the other benefits you might claim alongside JSA.