Jobseeker's Allowance Calculator
⚠️ New Style JSA is contribution-based. For means-tested support, Universal Credit has replaced income-based JSA for new claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Style JSA is a contribution-based benefit paid to people who are unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week, who have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions.
£84.80/week for those aged 25 and over; £67.20/week for those under 25. Rates are uprated annually with CPI inflation (April 2025 figures).
New Style JSA is payable for up to 182 days (26 weeks / 6 months) in any jobseeking period.
You need to have paid Class 1 NI contributions in 2 of the 3 complete tax years before the year of your claim. You need at least 26 weeks of contributions in each of those 2 years.
Yes. New Style JSA is not means-tested, so it doesn't exclude you from Universal Credit. However, your JSA counts as income for UC purposes, reducing UC pound-for-pound.
New Style JSA is taxable and counts as income. Whether it affects your Council Tax Reduction (support) depends on your local authority's scheme — check with your council.
A personalised agreement between you and your work coach at the Jobcentre setting out the steps you will take to find work. Failing to meet the commitment can result in a benefit sanction.
You can do some part-time work (under 16 hours/week). A daily earnings disregard applies (around £5/day), but earnings above this reduce your JSA pound-for-pound.
Income-based JSA was a means-tested version of JSA. New claims for income-based JSA are no longer possible — Universal Credit has replaced it for most people.
Apply online via GOV.UK. You'll need your NI number, employment history, bank details, and information about any other income. A Jobcentre appointment will follow.
Yes. New Style JSA is treated as taxable income. HMRC will notify your employer (if you find work during a claim period) or adjust your PAYE code.
Refusing a reasonable job offer without good reason can result in a JSA sanction, reducing or stopping your payments for up to 13 weeks (first offence), 26 weeks, or 156 weeks for repeat failures.