Contribution-based JSA

To qualify for contribution-based JSA, you must also have paid enough National Insurance contributions; contributions by the self-employed do not generally count. You must have:

• paid Class 1 National Insurance contributions on earnings equal to at least 25 times the lower earnings limit (LEL — see Introduction) in at least one of the relevant contribution years (see below); and

• paid, or been credited with, Class 1 contributions on earnings equal to at least 50 times the LEL in each of the relevant contribution years.

The relevant contribution years are the two complete tax years (6 April to 5 April) immediately before the start of the calendar year in which your job-seeking period begins. For example, if you are claiming JSA for the first time during 2013, your relevant contribution years would be 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Your P60 — the form you receive at the end of each tax year setting out the amount of tax and National Insurance you have paid — should help you work out whether you satisfy the contribution conditions.