Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) - How much Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) will I get?

New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance

New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance is paid at: 

• £71.70 per week if you are under 25

• £90.50 per week if you are 25 or over.

You may get less if you have part-time earnings or a personal/occupational pension.

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

It is complicated to work out how much income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance you can get, so we suggest using the Turn2us Benefits Calculator, which can calculate your entitlement.

To calculate income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, your income is compared to an amount which the government considers you need to live on. This can vary from one person to another because it depends on your family circumstances. For example:

• If you live alone or in a couple

• If you or your dependants are disabled

• If you're caring for someone who has a disability

• If you have savings of over £6,000

• If you have any other income.

Benefit Cap

Jobseeker's Allowance is included in the Benefit Cap which limits the total amount in some benefits that working-age people can receive. See our Benefit Cap guide for more details.

How will I be paid Jobseeker’s Allowance?

Jobseeker’s Allowance will be paid directly into your bank or building society account or through the Payment Exception Service if you are unable to open or manage one of these or a similar account.

Jobseeker’s Allowance is usually paid every two weeks.

Sanctions

There have been a number of changes to the rules about the conditions you have to meet in order to remain entitled to Jobseeker’s Allowance and the sanctions that can be imposed if you do not meet these conditions.

For more information, see our Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) sanctions information.

Please note: No sanction should be imposed if you can show good reason for your action that led to the sanction being considered. All decisions to apply a sanction can be appealed if you disagree.

Jobseeker’s Allowance and other benefits

Jobseeker’s Allowance counts as income when working out your entitlement to other benefits and tax credits.

Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance counts as income when working out entitlement to other benefits and tax credits, unless you are getting your benefit topped up by income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit or Universal Credit, in which case your contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance is ignored for Housing Benefit purposes.

If you get income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and are eligible for Housing Benefit, you are automatically entitled to get the maximum Housing Benefit for your circumstances.

Cold Weather Payment

If you get income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, you may also qualify for a Cold Weather Payment. You do not need to make a claim as the payment will be made automatically for each qualifying period of cold weather.

See our Cold Weather Payment guide for further details.