Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) - Can I get Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)?

Contributory/New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

You can get this for up to six months if:

• You’ve been working and have paid enough National Insurance contributions within the last couple of years.
• You’re unemployed or are working less than 16 hours per week
• You’re not in full-time education and are looking for work
• You don’t have an illness or disability which stops you from working

You can check your National Insurance record on GOV.UK, to see if you have enough NI contributions.

You can get Contributory/New Style JSA at the same time as Universal Credit. However, your JSA payments will count as income and reduce the amount of UC you’ll receive. 

You will have to accept a ‘claimant commitment’ if you make a claim. 

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance is being replaced by Universal Credit. You cannot make a new claim for income-based JSA. 

If you are already getting income-based JSA, you can stay on it until you receive a Managed Migration Notice letter and are invited to make a claim for Universal Credit. Your income-based JSA will stop three months after the date on the letter, so you need to claim Universal Credit before that deadline to keep your money coming in and to make sure you get transitional protection in UC. 

If you make a new claim for Universal Credit before you receive your Managed Migration Notice letter, you won’t get extra financial support through transitional protection. For more information, read our When should I start my Universal Credit claim page. 

The managed migration process is in its final stages and will be complete by 31 March 2026. After this date, income-based JSA will no longer exist as a benefit.