What is Jobseeker’s Allowance?

The Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) supports individuals who are unemployed or actively searching for employment. For those seeking full-time jobs, the allowance helps to reduce the costs of living. The benefit may also be open to individuals working less than 16 hours per week.

Eligibility

The Jobseeker’s Allowance is a condition-based incentive, which means applicants must satisfy several requirements to maintain payment eligibility. An individual would need to be eligible for the Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA):

• An individual has a previous experience as an employee.
• Has an age of 18 years and above
• Not yet claimed a pension
• Not in full-time education
• Living in England, Scotland or Wales
• Be able and open for work
• Working less than sixteen hours a week
• Have no disease or disability that prevents an individual from working
• The right to serve in the United Kingdom
• Payment of class 1 national insurance premiums, typically for the past 2 to 3 years (National Insurance credits can also count)

Types of JSA

• Contribution-based JSA: It relies on your contributions from National Insurance (NI); if you have paid enough NI contributions over the last two years, you will claim contribution-based JSA.
• New style JSA: It replaces the contribution-based JSA and operates in the same way.
• Income-dependent JSA: It relies on an individual’s income and investments, and if an individual has not paid adequate NI contributions, he/she will get it.

How to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance?

In reality, claiming Jobseeker’s allowance is relatively easy. There are two ways of claiming:

1. Create an Online Application
2. Make a call to Jobcentre Plus on Freephone

After that, an individual will have to attend an interview at their nearest Jobcentre Plus in which they and their agent will settle on what steps they will take to find jobs.

An individual should take important documents with them to their first meeting to speed up the process. That includes their social insurance number and a birth certificate or driving licence. An individual should also provide proof of their income and investments, pay slips, bank statements, and so on. Also, they would possibly even have to provide their partner’s social insurance number.

How much is the jobseekers’ allowance?

The amount of Jobseekers allowance depends upon an individual’s income, age, and savings. If he/she has a private pension or a part-time job or, they’ll get less amount as an allowance.