Am I Eligible For Job Seekers Allowance

How To Claim Job Seekers Allowance

Tripod Article On How To Claim Job Seekers Allowance/JSA In the United Kingdom

Can I be Eligible To Claim Jobe Seekers Allowance

An Introduction To Job Seekers Allowance/JSA In The United Kingdom - Support For Low Earnings and without a job

In summary the UK's Job Seekers Allowance/JSA (JSA) is available to residents of the United Kingdom actively seeking employment. Job Seekers Allowance/JSA is "aid you back to employment". Job Seekers Allowance is paid to those who are without a job or who work for less than 16 hours a week and who are directly seeking full-time employement. So essentially if you meet these criteria, you may be eligible for claiming Job Seekers Allowance in the UK.

For those of us jobless, and struggling to obtain work, then Jobseekers Allowance can be a lifeline to assist us in the time of acquiring appropriate work. There are a number of points you need to be aware of about Job Seekers Allowance/JSA which potentially might affect your elibibility and method to claim for the benefit.

If a claimant hasn't made enough contributions it maybe possible they may be entitled to an Income Based Job Seekers Allowance/JSA.

So essentially, if you are 18 years or over, unemployed and not in education or training, you could be able to claim Jobseekers Allowance. It is important to bear in mind you will not be entitled to Job Seekers Allowance if you are a full time student under 18, however, there are sometimes exceptions so it is a good idea to check with Jobcentre Plus.

See also the Job Center Plus website for more in depth facts about the Job Seekers Allowance/JSA.

Most of you have come to this site because you are out of work and desire to find out how to claim for Jobseekers Allowance, and whether you are eligible for Job Seekers Allowance/JSA.

Important questions about Job Seekers Allowance/JSA in the UK are on the forefront of many people's minds. If I become without a job next week, how long before I can claim Job Seekers Allowance/JSA/unemployment benefit? Well, the Job Seekers Allowance/JSA (JSA) is designed to be a short term measure to help people without work to get back on their feet and find a job. Jobcentre Plus may also give you assistance and support to look for a job. So would you be entitled for Jobseekers Allowance - Absolutely.

The Facts Of Claiming - What other considerations should people have to do before obtaining Job Seekers Allowance/JSA

Remember, Jobseeker's Allowance isn't normally paid to 16 or 17 year olds, except in very certain incidences, the benefit is paid to unemployed people who are directly looking for employement, and is administered through the JobCenter Plus. There are processes you need to abibe by to claim Job Seekers Allowance once you meet the above criteria.

Job Seeker's Allowance regulations require new applicants to meet with a job centre representative to conduct a new jobseeker interview. To get Jobseeker's Allowance you must be: available for, and actively looking for work between the age of 18 and State Pension age, and on average, working less than 16 hours per week.

When you claim Jobseeker's Allowance, you'll need to attend an interview at the Jobcentre. A Job Seekers Agreement will be drawn up between yourself and a Job Centre advisor To keep getting benefit you'll have to attend regular jobsearch reviews, usually once every two weeks.


Jobseeker's Allowance is paid at the end of every fortnight. You should apply for Jobseeker's Allowance the very first day you become without work. You may also be entitled to other benefits alongside Jobseeker's Allowance. When claiming JSA, the first three days are classed as 'waiting days' when you receive no payments - except for linked jobseeking periods (within 12 weeks of each other) when there are no waiting days restrictions.


It is important to note about claiming Job Seekers Allowance that you can be regarded as not being available for employement and not entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance if you put unreasonable restrictions on the following: The hours of work, the duration of the employment, the nature of the employement, the location of the employment.

You will have to prove in interview that you are consistently looking for work of any nature. For example, letters showing job applications or failure to get a job are required as your evidence of efforts. You have a job search diary and you're expected to fill it in. If they don't think you're making enough of an effort they make arrange an interview with another adviser, discuss things, and do intensive job searches.

You can of course appeal a decision, if the JobCentre Plus have decided that you can not receive Job Seekers Allowance where you feel the decision is wrong. Important to note however, that you may be disqualified from getting Jobseeker's Allowance for 9 weeks if you: Left employement voluntarily and without just cause, lost your job through misconduct, refused an offer of suitable alternative employment or suitable training.

Remember, Jobcentre Plus can assist you with the help you need to find the right job or training. And whilst claiming JSA your NI contribution record is credited by the government and therefore is kept up to date.

Claiming Job Seekers Allows - Means Tested Benefit

It is worth remembering that Job Seekers Allowance/JSA and many other benefits are means tested, so if you have a great stash of savings (currently the threshold is over £16,000) you are unlikely to be able to claim anything, other than benefits which many people can claim like child tax credits.

Job Seekers Allowance as a means tested benefit will assess your total household means is deducted from the maximum payment (usually this is the personal rate including any increases for adult and child dependants) to find the actual amount of Jobseeker's Allowance you are entitled to. If your spouse or partner works it can affect your Jobseeker's Allowance.

If you are self employed it is possible that you may be able to still claim Job Seekers Allowance depending on the income of your business.

How To Claim Job Seekers Allowance

Claims will normally be made by phone (0800 0556688) and followed up with a work-focussed interview described above, at JobCentre Plus, but paper claims are still acceptable and claimants should not be refused access to them. To streamline the system of benefits and partially remove the distinction between means-tested claimants and those claiming against contribution records, long-term job seekers were disallowed from claiming Income Support in 1996 when the current Jobseeker's Allowance was introduced. Once the agreement has been signed, a Decision Maker will decide how much of the claim should be backdated, if any.


Remember that missing a Restart Interview: the claim will be terminated unpaid, back benefit entitlement will be lost, and the claimant will need to make a new claim. Do NOT miss your Job Seekers Allowance/JSA interviews at any stage - as this may affect your claims.

Further Supporting Documents For Job Seekers Allowance

You will need to bring a properly completed claim form and supporting documents with you when attending the interview.

Claiming Job Seekers Allowance/JSA As A Couple

Childless couples claiming income-based Jobseekers Allowance have to make a joint claim, where one or both members were born after 19 March 1976.

Claiming Job Seekers Allowance whilst Volunteering

If you are claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) you are fully entitled to volunteer for as many hours as you like, as long as you remain available for and are actively seeking employement.

Job Seekers Allowance/JSA Payments

Remember that payments are reduced when the person has savings between £6,000 and £16,000.

People who are eligible for JSA(C) may also claim JSA(IB) for any additional payments due under that benefit (for family dependents, for example).

Most people are seeking alternative options such as working from home, and also making money online, first and fore most, above and beyond claiming benefits, as it is clear that you can easily make more money online and greater wealth with far less effort than claiming Job Seekers Allowance for a few quid.

Conclusion : Job Seekers Allowance/JSA In The United Kingdom

* Job Seekers Allowance/JSA is available to UK residents actively seeking work.
*If a claimant has not made enough contributions they may be entitled to an Income Based Job Seekers Allowance.
* Jobseeker's Allowance is paid to without work people.
* Jobseeker's allowance is the benefit.
* Jobseeker's Allowance or JSA is paid to people who are available for and "actively looking for" full-time employement.

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