Working hours: benefits rules - How are benefits affected by hours worked?

Universal Credit

Working hours do not affect Universal Credit. Universal Credit is paid to people in or out of work, and you (or your partner) can work any number of hours and still qualify. Your Universal Credit payments will adjust to your earnings. You can use our Benefits Calculator to find out how increasing your hours or starting a new job could affect what you get. 

Jobseeker's Allowance

For Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), you are classed as working full time if you do 16 hours or more paid work per week. Your partner is considered to be working full time if they do 24 or more hours paid work per week. You doing 16 hours or your partner doing 24 hours work will mean you cannot get the benefit anymore.

If you are working less than 16 hours per week, and your partner is working less than 24 hours per week, then you may be eligible to claim these benefits but the amount you are entitled to could be affected by any earnings you have. You can use our Benefits Calculator to check how much your earnings will affect your benefits.

Employment and Support Allowance 

You normally can't do any work while claiming Employment and Support Allowance. However, you can do  'permitted work' and remain entitled to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

If you claim Employment and Support Allowance, your partner's work hours will not affect your entitlement to ESA, because it is based on your own national insurance contribution record.