Guidance

New Style Jobseeker's Allowance

You may be able to claim New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) with, or instead of, Universal Credit, depending on your National Insurance record.

From:
Department for Work and Pensions
Published
6 December 2016
Last updated
3 January 2024 — See all updates

Overview

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.

Why should I claim New Style JSA?

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:

Your situation New Style JSA Universal Credit
You’re unemployed or work less than 16 hours a week on average and you need support between jobs.

You’ve paid and/or been credited with Class 1 NI contributions in the last 2 to 3 years as an employee.		 You can apply for New Style JSA – even if your partner works or you and your partner have savings over £16,000. You can apply for Universal Credit if you (and your partner) have children or housing costs.

You can also apply for Universal Credit if you (and your partner) have £16,000 or less in savings between you.

Your partner’s income will be taken into account as you’ll need to claim Universal Credit as a couple.

Any New Style JSA you receive will also be taken into account as income but you may still get Universal Credit.
You’re unemployed or work less than 16 hours a week on average. You need support between jobs and you’ve not paid or have not been credited with Class 1 NI contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years. You’re unlikely to get New Style JSA if you’ve not paid or have not been credited with NI contributions. You can apply for Universal Credit if you (and your partner) have children or housing costs.

You can also apply for Universal Credit if you (and your partner) have £16,000 or less in savings between you.

Your partner’s income will be taken into account as you’ll need to apply for Universal Credit as a couple.
You’re unemployed or work less than 16 hours a week on average.

You’ve paid and/or been credited with Class 1 NI contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years as an employee.

Between you, you and your partner have more than £16,000 in savings.		 You can apply for New Style JSA.

New Style JSA is not affected by you and your partner’s savings.		 You’re unlikely to get Universal Credit because your savings are too high.
You’re unemployed or work less than 16 hours a week on average.

You’ve paid and/or been credited with Class 1 NI contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years as an employee.

Your partner works.

Between you, you and your partner have less than £16,000 in savings.		 You can apply for New Style JSA, as your partner’s work does not affect your entitlement. You can also apply for Universal Credit as you and your partner have less than £16,000 in savings.

Your partner’s income will be taken into account as you’ll need to apply for Universal Credit as a couple.

Any New Style JSA you receive will also be taken into account as income but you may still get Universal Credit.
You’re unemployed or work less than 16 hours a week on average.

You receive pension income from previous employment.

You’ve paid and/or been credited with Class 1 NI contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years as an employee.		 You can apply for New Style JSA.

Your pension income may be taken into account.		 If you and your partner have less than £16,000 of savings you might also get Universal Credit.

Your pension income will be taken into account.

Any New Style JSA you receive will also be taken into account as income, but you may still get Universal Credit.
You’re unemployed or work less than 16 hours a week on average.

You have children.

You’ve paid and/or been credited with Class 1 NI contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years as an employee.		 You can apply for New Style JSA as you’ve paid/been credited with NI contributions so you may qualify.

New Style JSA does not include additional amounts for children.		 You can also apply for Universal Credit, as it is a household assessment and you can receive an amount for children.
You’re unemployed or work less than 16 hours a week on average.

You live in rented accommodation, or have a mortgage or home loan, and need help to pay the cost.

You’ve paid and/or been credited with Class 1 NI contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years as an employee.		 You can apply for New Style JSA as you’ve paid/been credited with NI contributions so may qualify.

New Style JSA does not include an additional amount for housing costs.		 You can also apply for Universal Credit, as it is a household assessment and you can receive an amount for your housing costs.

Eligibility

To get New Style JSA you usually need to have been working within the last 2 to 3 years as an employee, and have paid (or been credited with) Class 1 National Insurance contributions.

You’ll need to be either unemployed or work less than 16 hours a week on average.

You’ll also need to take reasonable steps to look for work.

If you have an illness or disability which stops you from working you cannot get New Style JSA, but you may be able to get ‘New Style’ Employment and Support Allowance.

How to claim

To apply, you’ll need your:

  • National Insurance number
  • bank or building society account details (or those of a family member or trusted friend)
  • employment details for the past 6 months, including employer contact details and dates you worked with them
  • private pension statement letter

Apply online

You cannot apply online if you’re under 18.

Apply for New Style JSA

If you cannot apply online or need alternative formats

Contact Jobcentre Plus if any of the following apply:

  • you’re aged 16 to 17
  • you need help applying
  • you need communications to be sent to you in an alternative format, such as braille, large print or audio CD

If you’re in Northern Ireland

If you cannot apply online or need alternative formats contact the Jobseeker’s Allowance Processing Centre.

After you make your claim

If you gave your mobile number or email address in your online application, you’ll get a text or email to confirm it’s been submitted.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will then contact you within 14 days of applying. You’ll either:

  • be invited to an interview at your local Jobcentre Plus office
  • receive a letter to explain why you’re not eligible for JSA

You do not need to contact DWP unless it has been more than 14 days since you applied and you haven’t heard anything.

Your JSA interview

If you’re invited to an interview, you must attend. It will be at your local Jobcentre Plus office.

You’ll be asked some questions to confirm your identity and then you’ll make an agreement about what steps you’ll take to look for work.

You’ll need to bring all of the following:

  • one photographic proof of identity
  • one proof of address
  • one further proof of identity

If you have a P45 from your employer, bring this to your interview. You can also use this as your further proof of identity.

Photographic proof of identity

Examples include your:

  • current passport
  • driving licence
  • biometric residence permit or eVisa
  • certificate of naturalisation as a British citizen
  • permanent residence permit

Proof of address

Examples include a:

  • payslip or pension statement dated within the last 6 months
  • utility bill dated within the last 6 months
  • Council Tax bill dated within the last 6 months
  • student loan documentation

Further proof of identity

Examples include your:

  • P60
  • savings account book
  • personal cheque book
  • current debit, credit or store card with a statement confirming the card details

Utility bills can be used for proof of address and as further proof of identity if they are from different suppliers.

Read the complete list of documents you can bring to your interview.

Support at your interview

You can take someone with you to your JSA interview.

Contact your Jobcentre Plus before the interview if you need:

  • support because of a disability or health condition (for example, if you’re deaf and need a sign language interpreter)
  • a foreign language interpreter and do not have someone who can help with interpretation

Sign an agreement to look for work (‘Claimant Commitment’)

At your JSA interview, you must sign an agreement about what steps you’ll take to look for a job. This is called a ‘Claimant Commitment’.

You and your work coach will agree what goes in your Claimant Commitment. This could include:

  • what you need to do to look for work - for example registering with recruitment agencies, writing a CV
  • how many hours you need to spend looking for work each week

What you agree to do will depend on things like:

  • your health
  • your responsibilities at home
  • how much help you need to get work or increase your income

Your JSA might be reduced or stopped if you do not do what you’ve agreed to in your Claimant Commitment and you cannot give a good reason.

If you disagree with a decision

You can challenge a decision about your claim. This is called asking for mandatory reconsideration.

Updates to this page

Published 6 December 2016
Last updated 3 January 2024 + show all updates

  1. Added a link to NI Direct for if you're in Northern Ireland and cannot apply for New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance online or need alternative formats.

  2. Updated the guidance on what happens after you make your claim to make it clearer.

  3. The time it takes for DWP to contact you after you apply for New Style JSA has changed from within 10 days to within 14 days.

  4. Added translation

  5. Updated guidance because you'll need to attend a face to face interview at a jobcentre after you make a new claim for New Style Jobseeker's Allowance. Included list of documents you'll need to take to the interview to prove your identity.

  6. Added guidance that you must attend a phone interview when you make a claim New Style Jobseeker's Allowance and you are eligible for the benefit and explained what happens at the interview.

  7. From 27 January 2021 you can claim New Style JSA if you’re getting Severe Disability Premium (SDP), or if you received SDP in the last month and are still eligible for it.

  8. Replaced guidance that you do not need to go to an appointment with a work coach at the moment with new guidance that DWP will make an appointment to talk to you, either over the phone or face-to-face.

  9. Updated the eligibility conditions to explain you need to take reasonable steps to look for work while following the guidance on working safely during coronavirus.

  10. Removed requirement to show you’re looking for work from the 'Eligibility' section because of coronavirus. Added eligibility guidance for people on furlough or getting Self-Employment Income Support grant. Added information you'll need before you start your application.

  11. The guidance on how to apply has been updated because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

  12. New Style Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) content updated and print and fold guide added.

  13. Removed references to Universal Credit full service and live service.

  14. Updated page to reflect that new claims to Universal Credit can now be made by households with more than 2 children.

  15. Updated Welsh version to reflect how the severe disability premium might affect a claim.

  16. Added information about Severe Disability Premium and how it may affect your claim to new style Jobseeker's Allowance.

  17. Added translation

  18. Next Generation Text (NGT) relay and Welsh language telephone line numbers updated.

  19. How to claim section updated and Next Generation Text number added.

  20. Updated to show that Universal Credit is now available everywhere in Great Britain.

  21. Universal Credit live service telephone helpline opening hours changed to 9am to 4pm.

  22. Added translation

  23. Added translation

  24. Added translation

  25. Added information about if you have more than 2 children.

  26. Updated for changes to who can claim new style Jobseeker's Allowance from 1 January 2018 if you don't live in a Universal Credit full service area.

  27. Updated guide with new 0800 freephone numbers for Universal Credit.

  28. How to claim new style Jobseeker's Allowance information updated.

  29. First published.

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