Jobseeker's Allowance
What is Jobseeker’s Allowance?
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) is a benefit for people under State Pension age who are unemployed, but able to work. It gives you a weekly income while you search for work.
There are different types of JSA.
- Old style JSA included income-based JSA and contribution-based JSA.
- New style JSA includes contribution-based JSA. Income-based JSA has been replaced by Universal Credit.
You can only make a new claim for new style JSA. New style JSA is for people who have paid enough National Insurance, usually in the last 2 to 3 years.
Find out more about other benefits and financial support.
Can I claim Jobseeker’s Allowance?
You can claim JSA if you are:
- living in the UK
- aged 18 or over
- under State Pension age
- not in full-time education
- not working, or working less than 16 hours a week on average
- fit for work
- available for work and actively looking for work.
In Northern Ireland, you cannot claim JSA if you are in certain types of education or getting certain other benefits. For more information, call our money advisers on 0808 808 00 00, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Visit macmillan.org.uk/inyourarea to find out if you can visit a Macmillan welfare rights adviser in person.
How do I claim Jobseeker’s Allowance?
If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you can apply:
- online at GOV.UK
- through your local Jobcentre Plus.
You must attend an interview with an adviser at your local Jobcentre Plus. You can search for your local Jobcentre Plus on the GOV.UK website.
If you live in Northern Ireland, you can apply through the Jobseeker’s Allowance Processing Centre. Call 0800 022 4250 or use textphone 0800 587 1297.
You must attend an interview with a work coach at your local Jobs and Benefits office. You can learn more on the NI Direct website.
Advisers at your local Jobcentre Plus or Northern Ireland Social Security or Jobs and Benefits office will help you with your job search.
New style Jobseeker's Allowance and other benefits
Depending on your situation, you may also be entitled to other benefits, such as:
- help with council tax or rates
- Universal Credit.
If you qualify for both new style JSA and Universal Credit, your new style JSA payments will:
- count as income when claiming Universal Credit
- lower your Universal Credit payment by the same amount.
New style JSA lasts for 6 months. After this, you may qualify for Universal Credit if your income and savings are below a certain level. If you get Housing Benefit, this will stop when you apply for Universal Credit.
It may be helpful to speak to a welfare rights adviser about what is best for you. Visit macmillan.org.uk/inyourarea to find out if you can visit a Macmillan welfare rights adviser in person. For more information, call our money advisers on 0808 808 00 00, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
You can backdate your claim by up to 3 months in certain circumstances.
About our information
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our benefits information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
GOV.UK www.gov.uk [accessed May 2025].
NI Direct www.nidirect.gov.uk [accessed May 2025].
Social Security Scotland www.socialsecurity.gov.scot [accessed May 2025].
Macmillan Welfare Rights Team
Reviewer
Date reviewed
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The language we use
We want everyone affected by cancer to feel our information is written for them.
We want our information to be as clear as possible. To do this, we try to:
- use plain English
- explain medical words
- use short sentences
- use illustrations to explain text
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We use gender-inclusive language and talk to our readers as ‘you’ so that everyone feels included. Where clinically necessary we use the terms ‘men’ and ‘women’ or ‘male’ and ‘female’. For example, we do so when talking about parts of the body or mentioning statistics or research about who is affected.
You can read more about how we produce our information here.