|Home |  Text Only |  Bigger Text |  Smaller Text |  Default Text  

|A-Z |  Contact us |  News |  Events |  Jobs 

Search:

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) is a benefit introduced from 7 October 1996 which replaces Unemployment Benefit and Income Support for unemployed jobseekers. If you satisfy the entitlement conditions, you will receive Jobseeker's Allowance to help you while you are looking for work.

Jobseeker's Allowance can be either contribution-based or income-based, and is normally paid for seven days each week that you qualify. If you have paid enough National Insurance (NI) contributions, you will get a personal rate of contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance, irrespective of capital or of partner's earnings, for up to 182 days.

Jobcentres offer skilled advice at every stage of your job search. They are listed under Employment Service in the phone book.

For a list of helpful leaflets that may be available from your local Jobcentre, Social Security office or Post Office, please see "Leaflets and where to get them".

This only provides general guidance and should not be treated as an authoritative statement of law.

Further Advice and Information

If you need further advice or information or you need to discuss any of this information in more detail, ask to speak to your Employment Service Adviser at your local Jobcentre.