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Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

Applies to:  England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Who does it help?

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) is a benefit for people who are:

• unemployed, and
• capable of working, and
• looking for a job. 

Whether you qualify for contribution-based JSA depends on your national insurance contributions. If you have been working and paying national insurance contributions within the last couple of years, you may get it.

You only get contribution-based JSA for yourself.  You do not get an amount for your partner if you are claiming as a member of a couple. However, you may get the other sort of JSA (called income-based JSA) on top of your contribution-based JSA if you:

• have a partner, or
• have a disability, or
• are caring for a person with a disability, or
• have housing costs.

Contribution-based JSA is paid for a maximum of six months. After that, you may get income-based JSA, depending on your income and savings.

To get contribution-based JSA, you must be over 18 and under state pension age. This used to be 60 for a woman and 65 for a man but this is changing for a lot of people. You can work out the exact date of your state pension age by using the state pension age calculator (link opens in a new window) on the Government's Directgov website. If you are unemployed, under 18, and not in full-time education, you may be able to claim contribution-based JSA.

To get contribution-based JSA, you must either not be working at all, or be working for less than 16 hours a week.

You must be able to start a job straight away. You must be available and looking for work and you'll have to go to the benefits office regularly to prove this. 

Is it means-tested?

To get contribution-based JSA, it does not matter how much money you have in savings.  But if you have part-time earnings or an occupational or personal pension, this may affect how much contribution-based JSA you get. If you earn too much, you will not be able to get contribution-based JSA.

What help does the benefit provide?

Contribution-based JSA comes in the form of cash from the Government.  You can spend it as you want. It is usually paid into your bank or building society account.  You can be paid at a post office in some cases.

How much does it pay?

How much contribution-based JSA you get depends on how old you are.  If you are under 25, you get £51.85 a week.  If you are 25 or over, you get £65.45.  However, you may get less if you have income from part-time earnings or an occupational or personal pension scheme. Depending on your circumstances and your income and savings, you may qualify for some income-based JSA as well. For example, your contribution-based JSA will be cut pound for pound for any occupational or personal pension that is over £50 a week.

Is this a taxable benefit?

Contribution-based JSA is a taxable benefit. However, there are special rules that decide how much of the benefit is taxable. The amounts depend on whether you are claiming as a single person or as a couple. You must tell your tax office when you start getting JSA.

How to claim

In England, Wales and Scotland you can claim Jobseeker's Allowance online or on the phone.

You can claim online on the Directgov website (link opens in a new window)

You can claim on the phone by calling Jobcentre Plus:

Telephone: 0800 055 6688

Textphone: 0800 023 4888

Welsh language line: 0800 012 1888

The telephone lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm.

In Northern Ireland, you claim Jobseeker's Allowance at a Jobs and Benefits Office or Social Security Office. To find your nearest office, visit the website of the Department for Social Development (link opens in a new window)

You might be able to claim backdated contribution-income-based JSA, up to a maximum of three months.  You have to give good reasons for claiming late, for example, you have language difficulties or you were given wrong advice which made you think you would not get any money.

Documents you need

You must give:

• your national insurance number
• normally, your partner's national insurance number if they live with you
• proof of who you are, for example, a driving licence or birth certificate
• proof of your income and savings, for example, bank statements or pay slips.

Further help

The Turn2us Benefit Checker can help you calculate your eligibility to JSA.  

The Citizens Advice website (link opens in a new window) can give you more information about contribution-based JSA (link opens in a new window). 

Directgov, the government website, (link opens in a new window) has more information about contribution-based JSA (link opens in a new window).

Find an adviser tool.

Useful links

This information has been produced by Citizens Advice. 

Last updated: 8 September 2010