Glossary · UK
What is Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)?
A benefit for people who are unemployed or working under 16 hours a week and actively seeking work; "new style" JSA is a contribution-based benefit paid for up to 182 days, separate from, but often claimed alongside, Universal Credit.
Full Definition
Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) is a benefit for people who are out of work, or working fewer than 16 hours a week on average, and who are capable of, available for, and actively seeking work. For most new claimants, the relevant version is "new style" JSA, a contribution-based benefit that depends on the claimant's Class 1 National Insurance record over the last two complete tax years, rather than on household savings or a partner's income or earnings, which distinguishes it from means-tested benefits. New style JSA can be claimed on its own or alongside Universal Credit, and where both are claimed together, any new style JSA received is deducted pound for pound from the Universal Credit award, since Universal Credit is meant to top income up to a set minimum rather than be paid in addition to it. New style JSA is paid for a maximum of 182 days (roughly six months) per claim, after which the claimant must rely on Universal Credit alone if their income remains too low, and claimants must accept a Claimant Commitment setting out the steps they agree to take to look for work, attending regular work coach appointments at the Jobcentre and providing evidence of job search activity; failing to meet these commitments without good reason can result in a sanction that reduces or stops the JSA payment for a set period. Income-based JSA, the older means-tested version, has largely been replaced by Universal Credit for new claims, and is now only available to a small number of existing claimants in specific circumstances. Worked example: a claimant is made redundant after eight years in continuous employment with a strong National Insurance contribution record; they claim new style JSA and are assessed as eligible based on their contributions in the two tax years before their claim, receiving the standard weekly rate for up to 182 days while they search for work, attending fortnightly work coach appointments; because their partner works full-time and their household savings are above the Universal Credit capital limit, they would not qualify for means-tested Universal Credit at all, but their contribution-based new style JSA is unaffected by either factor, since it depends purely on their own National Insurance record.