Jobseeker's Allowance

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) is a benefit for adults who are unemployed but available for work. You can still claim JSA if you are working for less than 16 hours per week.

If you are incapable of work or a lone parent of a child under the age of 12 you should consider applying for Income Support or Employment and Support Allowance instead.

There are two types of JSA, contribution-based JSA (JSA Cont) and income-based (JSA IB). JSA Cont is based on the amount of National Insurance contributions that you have made in previous tax years.

Contribution-based JSA is a flat rate benefit payable for a maximum of six months.

Income-based JSA is worked out according to any income or capital that you or your partner may have. If you or your partner have savings of over £16,000 then you won't qualify for income-based JSA.

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The main criteria for Jobseeker's Allowance

In order to get JSA you must be:

• available for work and have entered into a jobseeker's agreement; and
• actively seeking work; and
• under state pension age and over the age of 18. Some young people aged between 16 and 18 may qualify if they can show that they have become estranged from their parents; and
• lawfully living in the UK; and
• capable of work; and
• not in full-time education; and
• not working or only working less than 16 hours per week.

You also need to meet either the criteria for contribution JSA or the criteria for income-based JSA (see above).

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Sanctions.

Sanctions will be apllied to your benefit if you fail to take up offers of work or fail to increase your chances of obtaining work. Sanctions can stop your benefit for 2 or 4 weeks. Repeat offenders may have their benefit stopped for 26 weeks.

Claimants can appeal against a sanction.

A sanction should not be applied if you can show that you had "good cause" for your "offence".

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Jobseeker's Allowance weekly rates of pay

The weekly rate for contributions-based JSA is:

for claimants under the age of 25 - £50.95;

for claimants over 25 - £64.30.

Income-based JSA is worked out according to any income or savings that you or your partner may have. In addition to the basic personal allowance, you may also qualify for certain premiums which are intended to help with the extra costs of disability or having caring responsibilities, a premium is also available in respect of claimants over the age of 60.

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Applying for Jobseeker's Allowance.

You can call 08000 55 66 88 between 8am and 6pm Mon-Fri. The DWP states that this call will take "about" 40 minutes and that you should have the following details to hand:

• your National Insurance number;
• details of you rent or mortgage;
• details of your past and present employment; and
• details of any other income and savings that you may have.

You can also claim online via the DWP website. You will need to enable pop-ups in your browser to access this service.

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