New-style JSA

New-style JSA provides help while you look for work and you normally apply online. Depending on your circumstances, it can be claimed on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit (UC).

To be eligible for the new-style JSA, you must have worked as an employee and paid Class 1 National Insurance contributions (NICs), usually in the last two to three years, although National Insurance credits can also count (see page 8). People who were self-employed and only paid Class 2 NICs will not be eligible (unless they were working as a share fisherman or a volunteer development worker). Any partner’s income and savings will not affect your claim and you can get new-style JSA for up to 182 days (around six months).