JSA Allowance the does and dont's! - the short version!!
The type and amount of Jobseekers Allowance you may qualify for depends on your circumstances. The options are as follows:
You may qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance (Contribution based) if you are unemployed, have paid enough National Insurance Contributions and are available for and actively seeking work.
It is payable for up to 182 days. No additional benefit is payable for dependants.
Jobseeker's Allowance (Income based) is income related. You may qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based) if you are unemployed, available for and actively seeking work but have not paid enough National Insurance Contributions to receive Jobseeker's Allowance (Contribution based).
The rates payable depend on your circumstances.
Joint Claims for Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based) was introduced as part of the Government's Welfare to Work reforms. It aims to:
- reduce the number of households where currently no one works by requiring both members of a couple to look for work or training
- help you, if you are working part time, to increase your hours or improve your employment prospects.
Both members of a couple satisfying certain criteria will be required to be available for work as a condition of receiving Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based).
You can get advice on all aspects of Jobseekers Allowance at the Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office.
Jobseeker's Allowance is paid to unemployed people.
Income Support can be paid for persons who are in the following categories:
- A Lone Parent with a child under 12 living with them (from october 2009 this will become a child under 10);
- Caring for a severely disabled person or a member of their family who is temporarily ill;
- A Disabled person whose earnings are reduced because of their disability;
- A Student (who qualifies for Benefit);
- Pregnant within 11 weeks of the expected date of confinement; and
- People aged 60 and over.
An
unemployed person will be entitled to a Jobseeker's Allowance if they:
- are available for employment; and
- have entered into a Jobseeker's agreement; and
- are actively seeking employment; and
- satisfy the contribution-based conditions or the income-based conditions; and
- are not engaged in full-time paid work; and
- are capable of work; and
- are not receiving relevant education; and
- are under pension age; and
- are in Northern Ireland.
To qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance you must be unemployed or working on average less than 16 hours a week.
If you work part-time, the first £5.00, £10.00, or £20.00 of your earnings (net of Income Tax, National Insurance and half of any pension fund contribution) is disregarded in assessing your claim to Jobseekers Allowance.
The standard disregard on part-time earnings is £5.00 a week, but a higher £20.00 disregard is applied to the following groups:
