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Hardship Payments - Jobseeker’s Allowance - Hardship Payments

Hardship Payments are reduced-rate payments of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit (UC) that are made in limited circumstances, including if you have been sanctioned.

  1. 1. What is a Hardship Payment?
  2. 2. Jobseeker’s Allowance - Hardship Payments
  3. 3. How much can I get from Jobseeker's Allowance hardship payments?
  4. 4. How do I claim Jobseeker's Allowance Hardship Payments?
  5. 5. Employment and Support Allowance Hardship Payments
  6. 6. How much can I get from Employment and Support Allowance hardship payments?
  1. 7. How do I claim Employment and Support Allowance Hardship Payments?
  2. 8. Universal Credit Hardship Payments
  3. 9. How much can I get from a Universal Credit hardship payment?
  4. 10. How do I claim Universal Credit hardship payments
  5. 11. Hardship Payments and Claiming Other Benefits or Tax Credits
  6. 12. Challenging a hardship payment decision

Jobseeker’s Allowance - Hardship Payments

Only people who usually get income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance(i-JSA) can get a Hardship Payment.

You may be able to get Hardship Payments of i-JSA if your JSA is being paid at a reduced (or nil) rate.

You can qualify for hardship payments of i-JSA in a number of situations:

  • If you are in a vulnerable group and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has decided that you (or your partner) do not satisfy the job-seeking conditions.​ You may be in a vulnerable group if you:
    • are pregnant or responsible for a child
    • qualify for a disability premium
    • have a chronic medical condition
    • care for someone (claiming a qualifying disability benefit)
    • are under 21 and have been in local authority care in the last three years.
  • When your JSA is suspended because there is doubt about whether you (or your partner) are meeting job-seeking conditions.
  • When your JSA is reduced because of a sanction.

 


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