Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
Report a change of circumstances
You must tell Jobcentre Plus if your circumstances change, for example you start working or your income changes. This might affect how much Jobseekers’ Allowance (JSA) you get.
If you get more than one benefit, you’ll need to report your change to each benefit office.
This page does not cover every change you must report. Call Jobcentre Plus if you’re not sure whether you need to report a change.
Your claim might be reduced or stopped if you do not report a change straight away.
New Style JSA
If you get New Style JSA, you must report if you:
-
change your name, address, bank details or telephone number
-
become ill or go into hospital
-
start or stop caring for someone
-
start or stop education, training or an apprenticeship
-
start a job, including self-employment
-
do any paid, unpaid or voluntary work, even if it is only for a few hours
-
start getting, stop getting, or get a different amount of other benefits or pensions
-
leave Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for any period of time
-
go on holiday, including holidays in Great Britain
Income-based JSA
If you get income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, you must report the following changes.
Changes to personal details
You need to report if:
-
you or your partner change name, address, bank details or telephone number
-
anybody starts or stops living with you
-
you or someone included on your claim changes immigration status
-
you go on holiday, including holidays in Great Britain
-
you or anyone who lives with you leaves Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales) for any period of time
-
your partner or someone you live with dies
You also need to report if you, your partner, or anyone who lives with you:
-
gets married or forms a civil partnership
-
gets divorced or ends a civil partnership
-
has a baby or gets pregnant
-
goes into prison or legal custody
Changes to work and education
You need to report if you, your partner, or anyone who lives with you:
-
starts or stops education, training or an apprenticeship
-
finds or finishes a job, or starts working different hours
-
is involved in a trade dispute, or unable to work because of a trade dispute (for example, if there’s a strike)
Volunteering will not normally affect your JSA but you should report it before you start.
Changes to income and benefits
You need to report if your household income goes up or down. Tell us if you or anyone who lives with you:
-
has a change to earnings
-
gets paid back-pay (sometimes called ‘arrears’) for earnings from work
-
gets a different amount of benefit or pensions
-
has a change to the amount of any other money coming in (for example student loans or grants, sick pay or money from a charity)
Changes to your savings or assets
You need to report if the total savings and assets in your household is more than £6,000.
You also need to report if you or anyone who lives with you:
-
has a change to the amount of savings or investments they own
-
becomes the owner of any land, buildings or premises or sells any land, buildings or premises
-
gets a one-off payment such as inheritance or lump sum payment
Changes to a medical condition or disability
You need to report if:
-
you or someone included on your claim has any changes to a medical condition or disability
-
you or someone included on your claim goes into hospital, a care home or sheltered accommodation
-
you or someone included on your claim starts or stops caring for someone
-
anybody starts or stops getting Carer’s Allowance, Carer Support Payment or an extra amount of Universal Credit for caring for you
You may be prosecuted or have to pay a £50 penalty if you give wrong or incomplete information, or do not report changes straight away.
How to report
You can report a change of circumstances by:
- calling the JSA helpline
- writing to the Jobcentre Plus office that pays your JSA - the address is on the letters you get about your JSA
If your partner or someone you live with has died, you can tell Jobcentre Plus and other government organisations in one go using the Tell Us Once service.
JSA and New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) helpline
Telephone: 0800 169 0310
Textphone: 0800 169 0314
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0310
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet
Welsh language: 0800 328 1744
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
If you’re claiming Universal Credit as well as New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), you must report changes to both services.
If you’ve been paid too much
If you do not report a change straight away or give wrong or incomplete information, you might be paid too much. If you are, you might have to pay some of the money back.