New Style JSA

Overview

You can apply for New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) to help you when you’re looking for work.

You cannot apply for income-based JSA any more. If you’re currently getting income-based JSA, you’ll keep getting payments while you’re eligible until your claim ends.

You could get Universal Credit at the same time or instead of New Style JSA. Your New Style JSA payment will count as income for Universal Credit

Eligibility

To be eligible for New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) you’ll need to have both:

  • worked as an employee
  • paid Class 1 National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years (National Insurance credits can also count)

You will not be eligible if you were self-employed and only paid Class 2 National Insurance contributions, unless you were working as a share fisherman or a volunteer development worker.

You’ll also need to:

  • be 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 or 17 – contact Jobcentre Plus for advice)
  • be under the State Pension age
  • not be in full-time education
  • be available for work
  • not be working at the moment, or be working less than 16 hours per week on average
  • not have an illness or disability which stops you from working
  • live in the UK

While you receive JSA, you’ll need to take reasonable steps to look for work as agreed with your work coach. Your savings and your partner’s income and savings will not affect your claim.

You can get New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) for up to 182 days (about 6 months). After this you can talk to your work coach about your options.

How to apply

You can apply for New Style JSA online

When you apply to claim JSA, your work coach will make an agreement with you to look for work. This agreement is called a ‘Claimant Commitment’.

The Claimant Commitment

Your Claimant Commitment could include:

  • what you need to do to look for work – for example registering with recruitment agencies or writing a CV
  • how many hours you need to spend looking for work each week

You should continue to do all the things you have agreed to do if you can do them safely.

You can search and apply for work using the ‘Find a job’ service.

Change of Circumstances

You must tell Jobcentre Plus if your circumstances change, for example you start working or your income changes.

Last Updated on June 10, 2026 by Ashford Advice