Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) - Can I get Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)?

Contribution-based/New-style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

You can get this for up to six months if you have been working and have paid enough national insurance contributions within the last couple of years. It is paid just for you even if you have a partner.  

You can get contribution-based/New Style JSA at the same time as Universal Credit.  

A new claim for contribution-based JSA is also known as a new claim for New-style Jobseeker's Allowance.

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

It is no longer possible to make new claims for income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. It has been replaced by Universal Credit. If you or your partner are receiving a legacy benefit such as Child Tax Credit or Housing Benefit, these will stop if you make a claim for Universal Credit. 

By September 2024, the Department for Work and Pensions will contact people receiving income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) to tell them that they need to switch to Universal Credit. 

From September 2024, the Department for Work and Pensions will contact people receiving income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) to tell them that they need to switch to Universal Credit. If you've received a notice letter telling you to claim Universal Credit, read our guide Universal Credit Migration Notice to find out about your next steps.

If you are already getting income-based JSA, you can carry on getting it until you stop meeting the qualifying conditions, or until you receive a migration notice telling you to switch to Universal Credit.

The qualifying conditions for getting income-based JSA are:

• You and (your partner's) income is low enough, and
• You and (your partner's) savings and capital are below £16,000, and
• You are available for work and actively seeking work, and
• You are under 66, and
• You must not be working, or working fewer than 16 hours a week, and
• If you have a partner, they must not be working or working fewer than 24 hours a week.