New Style Jobseeker's Allowance

If you’re unemployed or work less than 16 hours a week on average you may be able to get New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).

New Style JSA is a fortnightly payment that can be claimed on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit.

New Style JSA is a contribution based benefit. Normally, this means you may be able to get it if you’ve paid enough National Insurance (NI) contributions, usually in the 2 full tax years before the year you’re claiming in. National Insurance credits can also count.

If you qualify, you can get New Style JSA for up to 182 days. After this your work coach will talk to you about your options.

If you qualify for both New Style JSA and Universal Credit, any New Style JSA you receive will be taken into account as income for Universal Credit.

Your savings and capital (or your partner’s savings, capital and income) are not taken into account when claiming New Style JSA. However, your earnings and any payment you’re getting from a pension can affect the amount you may receive.

While you receive New Style JSA you’ll be awarded Class 1 National Insurance credits, which can help towards your State Pension and other contributory benefits in the future. It is a regular fortnightly payment.

The following table shows what you may be able to claim depending on your circumstances:

To be eligible for New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) you’ll need to have both:

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.

There are different eligibility rules if you’re in Northern Ireland.

You will not be eligible if you’re involved in a disagreement with your employer about employment-related issues (a ‘trade dispute’).