Guidance

New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance: what you need to tell us if you do any work

Updated 15 September 2023

You must tell Jobcentre Plus if you do any work while you’re getting New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).

Your benefit might be reduced or stopped if you do not report a change straight away.

You cannot usually get New Style JSA if you work 16 hours or more a week on average, unless you work in certain jobs.

If you work for less than 16 hours a week, you may be able to get New Style JSA, but the amount you get may be reduced.

What to do if you do any work

If you attend regular appointments at the jobcentre

You will need to:

• take your pay slips to the appointment
• fill in a form at your appointment with your work coach to tell us about any work you have done in the last 2 weeks

If you do not attend appointments at the jobcentre

You will need to ask your work coach to send you a ‘declaration of work’ form and B7 form for each job you have. Fill in the forms and send them back to the jobcentre with your pay slips.

What you need to tell us

When you complete the forms about the work you’ve done, you’ll need to tell us:

• your employer’s name, address and phone number
• the dates that you worked
• the number of hours and minutes you worked each week
• how often you were paid
• the date or dates you were paid
• how much you earned before any deductions
• the amount of deductions for things like tax, National Insurance, pension contributions, union subscriptions and child maintenance payments
• if your employer gave you any money for anything else, and if they did, how much and what the money was for (for example bus or train fares or work expenses)

You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.

If you work regularly

If you work regularly, your work coach will tell you if you can reduce the amount of information you need to provide each time.

How earnings affect New Style JSA

You usually can earn up to £5 a week before your earnings affect your new Style JSA. Earnings over £5, after deductions for things like tax, National Insurance and pension contributions, will reduce your New Style JSA.

For example, if you earn £50.25 a week, after deductions for things like tax, National Insurance and pension contributions, your New Style JSA will be reduced by £45.25.

If you work in certain jobs

You can earn up to £20 a week before your earnings affect your new Style JSA if you’re:

• a part-time fire-fighter
• an auxiliary coastguard working for coastal rescue services
• a part-time lifeboat crew member or are involved in launching a lifeboat
• a member of the armed forces or reserve forces
• a share fisherman

Earnings over £20, after deductions for things like tax, National Insurance and pension contributions, will reduce your New Style JSA.

For example, if you earn £50.25 a week, after deductions for things like tax, National Insurance and pension contributions, your New Style JSA will be reduced by £30.25.

When you can work 16 hours or more

You may still be able to get New Style JSA if you work 16 hours or more a week on average and any of the following apply:

• you work for a charity or voluntary organisation or are a volunteer and the only payment you get is for expenses
• you’re on a training scheme and get a training allowance
• you’re a part-time fire-fighter
• you work as an auxiliary coastguard for coastal rescue services
• you work as a part-time lifeboat crew member or are involved in launching a lifeboat
• you’re a member of the armed forces or reserve forces
• you’re a local councillor
• you’re paid to be a foster parent
• you’re paid to provide respite care
• you get funding to take part in sport
• you’re on a work experience programme