Jobseeker's Allowance
Jobseeker’s Allowance is the main benefit for people of working age who are out of work or work less than 16 hours a week on average. If you're eligible, it is paid while you're looking for work.
Who can get Jobseeker's Allowance?
To get Jobseeker's Allowance you must be:
- available for, capable of and actively seeking work
- aged 18 or over but below State Pension age
- working less than 16 hours per week on average, depending on the amount of your wage
- not be in certain types of education
- not be receiving certain other benefits, and
- resident in Northern Ireland
Jobseeker's Allowance isn't normally paid to 16 or 17 year olds, except in special cases.
If you have reached Pension Credit Age, you may be able to claim Pension Credit. Contact your local Social Security / Jobs and Benefits office for advice. The minimum age you can get Pension Credit is gradually increasing to 65 alongside the increase in women's State Pension Age.
- Social Security / Jobs and Benefits Offices (contacts section)
- Benefits for young people (young people section)
- Understanding Pension Credit (pensions and retirement planning section)
How it works
There are two types of Jobseeker's Allowance:
- Contribution-based
- Income-based
Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Contribution based Jobseeker’s Allowance can be paid for up to 182 days Generally, self-employed contributions will not help you qualify for contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
National Insurance contributions for contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Whether you are entitled to contribution-based JSA depends on the National Insurance contributions you have paid over the last two complete tax years before the benefit year you make your claim in.
A benefit year starts in January (on the first Sunday of that month) and ends the following January (on the Saturday immediately before the first Sunday of that month). Here is an example.
If you made a claim on 15 February 2005, this would fall in benefit year 2005. This means that we would use the contributions you paid during the tax years 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 to work out your benefit.
If you have received other benefits before you claim Jobseeker’s Allowance, this may affect the date your claim will begin. If you are in any doubt about the contributions you have paid and how this will affect your contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, please speak to your local Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office. This is especially important towards the end of the tax year. The contribution year your benefit is based on will change in January.
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.
Please browse the pages at the link directly below for more information about National Insurance contributions.
Joint claims for Jobseeker’s Allowance
If you have a partner who was born after 28 October 1947 you may need to claim JSA as part of a couple (this is called a joint claim).
In a joint claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance, both members of certain couples usually have to claim JSA together, and both people must usually meet all the rules for getting income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance. This applies if:
- you, you partner, or both of you are aged 18 or over and were born after 28 October 1947, and
- neither of you are responsible for a child
How to claim
If you wish to claim Jobseekers Allowance, contact your local Jobs and Benefits or Social Security Office.
Jobseeker's Allowance payments
In most cases you will not get any money for the first three days of your claim. These are called 'waiting days'.
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 get an occupational or personal pension, it may affect the amount of benefit you get.
Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance
The maximum weekly rates are:
| Age | Amount |
|---|---|
| Aged 16 - 24 | £56.80 |
| Aged 25 or over | £71.70 |
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
The maximum weekly rates are:
| Type of person | Amount |
|---|---|
| Single people, aged under 25 | £56.80 |
| Single people, aged 25 or over | £71.70 |
| Couples and civil partnerships (both aged 18 or over) | £112.55 |
| Lone parents (aged under 18) | £56.80 |
| Lone parents (aged 18 or over) | £71.70 |
For income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, the amount may be less after your household income, pension and savings is taken into account.
What happens next
Attending the Social Security/Jobs and Benefits office
When you claim Jobseekers Allowance, you'll need to attend an interview at the Social Security/Jobs and Benefits office. An adviser will help you draw up a 'jobseeker's agreement'. This will set out the steps you agree to take to find work.
To keep getting benefit you'll have to attend regular jobsearch reviews, usually every fortnight. There's a longer review if you've been getting benefit for 13 weeks.
For more information about the help you can get to find work, visit:
If you think the decision is wrong
If the Social Security/Jobs and Benefits office decides that you can't get Jobseekers Allowance and you think the decision is wrong you can appeal.
Changes in your circumstances
You must tell the Social Security/Jobs and Benefits Office as soon as possible about any changes in your circumstances, as it may affect your benefit.
Information in Alternative Languages
Information in Alternative Languages on Jobseekers Allowance.
| Language | Leaflet Type |
|---|---|
| العربية - Arabic | Jobseeker's Allowance fact sheet in Arabic (PDF 80 KB) |
| 简体中文 - Chinese | Jobseeker's Allowance fact sheet in Chinese (PDF 168 KB) |
| Latviešu valodâ - Latvian | Jobseeker's Allowance fact sheet in Latvian (PDF 70 KB) |
| Lietuviškai - Lithuanian | Jobseeker's Allowance fact sheet in Lithuanian (PDF 69 KB) |
| Polski - Polish | Jobseeker's Allowance fact sheet in Polish (PDF 73 KB) |
| Português - Portuguese | Jobseeker's Allowance fact sheet in Portuguese (PDF 30 KB) |
| Español - Spanish | Jobseeker's Allowance fact sheet in Spanish (PDF 31 KB) |
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