Jobseeker's Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance is the main benefit for people of working age who are out of work or work less than 16 hours a week on average. If you're eligible, it is paid while you're looking for work. Find out more information including how to apply online.

Who can get Jobseeker's Allowance?

To get Jobseeker's Allowance you must be:

• available for and actively seeking work
• between 18 and State Pension age
• working less than 16 hours per week on average

Jobseeker's Allowance isn't normally paid to 16 or 17 year olds, except in special cases.

If you’re a man aged 60 to 64, you may be better off claiming Pension Credit. Contact Jobcentre Plus for advice.

Find your local Jobcentre Plus office

Benefits for young people (Directgov website)

Understanding Pension Credit (Directgov website)

How it works

There are two types of Jobseeker's Allowance, 'contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance' and 'income-based Jobseeker's Allowance'.

Jobcentre Plus can pay this for up to 182 days. It’s based on how much National Insurance you have paid in the last two tax years. Generally, self-employed contributions will not help you qualify for contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

This is based on your income and savings. You may get this if you have not paid enough National Insurance contributions (NICs) (or you've only paid contributions for self-employment) and you're on a low income.

Please read 'National Insurance' for more information about National Insurance contributions.

National Insurance (Directgov website)

How to claim

If you’ve claimed before

If you have stopped getting Jobseeker’s Allowance in the last 26 weeks and want to claim the same type again, call Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688.

Claim online

Apply online for Jobseeker’s Allowance:

Apply for income-based Jobseeker's Allowance online

Apply for contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance online

Claim by phone

Call Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688.

There's a Welsh language line on 0800 012 1888, and a textphone 0800 023 4888 if you find it hard to speak or hear clearly.

Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm.

Jobseeker's Allowance payments

Jobseeker's Allowance is paid at the end of every fortnight. It's paid straight into your bank or building society account. This is the best way to get your benefit because you can choose how and when to take your money out of your account.

If you get an occupational or personal pension, it may affect the amount of benefit you get.

The maximum weekly rates are:

Age 16 - 25: £50.95

Age 25 or over: £64.30

The maximum weekly rates are:

Single people, aged under 25: £50.95

Single people aged 25 or over: £64.30

Couples and civil partnerships (both aged 18 or over): £100.95

Lone parents (aged under 18): £50.95

Lone parents (aged 18 or over): £64.30

For income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, the amount may be less after your household income, pension and savings is taken into account.

If you think your decision is wrong

If Jobcentre Plus decides that you can't get Jobseeker's Allowance and you think this decision is wrong, you can appeal.

How to appeal against a benefits decision (Directgov website)

Changes in your circumstances

You must tell Jobcentre Plus as soon as possible about any changes in your circumstances, as it may affect your benefit.

Changes that affect your benefit (Directgov website)

Attending the Jobcentre

When you claim Jobseeker's Allowance, you'll need to attend an interview at the Jobcentre. An adviser will help you draw up a 'jobseeker's agreement'. This will set out the steps you agree to take to find work.

To keep getting benefit you'll have to attend regular jobsearch reviews, usually every fortnight. There's a longer review if you've been getting benefit for 13 weeks.

Benefits and help when looking for work

If you're unemployed and available for work, you may be able to get Jobseeker's Allowance and other benefits. Jobcentre Plus may also give you help and support to look for a job.

Benefits advice

If you're unsure what benefits you can get, you can check online through benefits adviser.

Benefits adviser

Jobseeker's Allowance

To find out about Jobseeker's Allowance, who can get it and how to claim online go to Jobseeker's Allowance.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Help looking for work

New jobseeker interview

When you claim Jobseeker's Allowance, you'll need to attend an interview at the Jobcentre. This is called a 'new jobseeker interview'.

 Find your way back to work - Day 1 (PDF, 684KB)

A Jobcentre Plus adviser will talk to you about the extra help that may be available to you, such as:

• access to specialist help for things like writing a CV, preparation for interviews, confidence building and work skills
• help to look for work if you haven’t had experience of looking for a job for some time
• help if you're looking for professional or executive jobs
• help with reading, maths or with your English
• information about improving your skills to suit the type of jobs available locally
• help with one-off expenses that might help you get back to work quickly, such as the cost of buying formal clothes for an interview

This support depends on your circumstances, and what's available in your area.

 Find your way back to work by improving your skills (England only) (PDF, 922KB)

 Find your way back to work by improving your skills (Scotland only) (PDF, 299KB) 

 Find your way back to work by improving your skills (Wales only) (PDF 710KB)

Jobseeker reviews

To keep getting benefit you'll have to attend regular jobsearch reviews, usually every fortnight. There's a longer review if you've been getting benefit for 13 weeks.

 Find your way back to work - Your 13 week review meeting (PDF, 707KB)

Your reviews cover:

• what you have been doing to find work (you should keep a record)
• changes you might need to make to improve your chances of success
• any additional help you think you need

After six months

If you’re still out of work after six months, you’ll be asked to attend a 'restart interview' with a personal adviser.

 Find your way back to work - Your 26 week review meeting (PDF, 686KB)

 Find your way back to work - Your 26 week review meeting (Scotland only) (PDF, 649kb)

This interview is to make sure:

• you're doing all you can to find work
• Jobcentre Plus are giving you the help you need

Your personal adviser will tell you about any extra help you can get. This depends on your circumstances and what’s available in your area. It can include:

• access to jobs where an employer gets a £1,000 recruitment subsidy and support to provide you with in work training
• help to start your own business or become self-employed, including financial help and specialist advice
• the training that's available if you need to improve your skills, or develop new ones that will increase your job prospects
• voluntary work you could do while seeking full time work. Volunteering helps you keep your skills up to date or gain new skills and experience that will help you

You may also get help and support through the New Deal programme. This is for people out of work for six months or more.

New Deal