New-Style Jobseeker's Allowance

It is paid at a flat rate of £90.50 per week (£71.70 if you are under 25) for up to six months. It is not means-tested so your partner's income and your savings are not taken into account, but a pension of over £50 per week will reduce your amount of New-Style JSA (Jobseeker's Allowance).

You can also claim Universal Credit at the same time as Jobseeker's Allowance if you need a means-tested benefit to help with household living costs.  

Eligibility 

You can claim new style Jobseeker's Allowance if you live in Great Britain and you: 

• Are available for work 
• Are actively seeking work 
• Have a claimant commitment 
• Are not working 16 hours or more a week 
• Are capable of work 
• Are under pension age 
• Are not in full time, non-advanced education if you are under age 19 

How to claim 

You can claim new-style Jobseeker's Allowance online or, if you are unable to claim online, by telephone on 0800 055 6688.

The claimant commitment

You must generally be willing to and able to take up any paid employment of 35 hours or more a week, but you may be able to agree limitations to this in certain circumstances such as caring responsibilities or disability. For up to the first four weeks of your claim you can usually only look for work in your usual occupation and level of pay. After this a personalised commitment is drawn up between you and your Jobcentre work coach detailing the actions you are going to take to find work.  You can ask for it to include details of any health conditions that restrict your availability or activities and of caring responsibilities. There is a risk of being sanctioned if you do not keep to all of your commitments.

Ill-health or disability

If you have very limited capability for work, you might wish to claim New-Style Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit instead.