In order to claim Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), you need to be capable of working. If you have a medical condition or disability which would prevent you from working then you should claim either Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support (IS).
You are allowed to be ill for up to two weeks and still be considered to be capable for work providing you continues to meet all the other basic criteria for JSA except those relating to being available for work and actively seeking work.
Jobseeker's Allowance Page Index.
Introduction to Jobseeker's Allowance.
Jobseeker's Allowance and being available for work.
Jobseeker's Allowance and actively seeking work.
Jobseeker's Allowance and being capable of work.
Jobseeker's Allowance and education.
Jobseeker's Allowance rates of pay.
Residence rules for Jobseeker's Allowance.
Income based Jobseeker's Allowance.
If you are ill for longer than two weeks then your JSA will be stopped and you will need to claim either income support or employment and support allowance.
You can only be ill twice in any one period of claiming JSA.
If you have claimed JSA for longer than one year then you can be ill twice in every year.
After your illness you will be asked to sign a written declaration which indicates the period when you were unwell.
If you are ill for a third time during a period of claiming or during any subsequent year your JSA will be stopped and you will need to claim either ESA or IS instead.
If you are ill up to eight weeks after a period in which you were entitled to:
then your JSA will be stopped and you will need to claim your previous benefit again.
