How to claim JSA

There are different application processes if you're either:

• claiming new style JSA

• adding income-based JSA to your existing claim for contribution-based JSA

You'll need to gather the personal information you need, then apply online or by phone.

Get your personal information ready

Find all the personal information you need for your application. If you're making a joint claim, get this for each person.

How much money you have

You'll need your bank account number and sort code - if you don't have an account you'll need to open one. 

If you’ve tried to open an account and had your application refused, you can ask to use the Payment Exception Service - this means you can collect your JSA payments from a PayPoint. You’ll need to explain why you can’t open a bank account.

Check how much money you have coming in each month from benefits or work. Write these figures down separately. Check the amount of any other income, for example rent from a lodger.

If you're applying to get income-based JSA, you'll also need to know how much you have in savings. Check any bank or savings accounts - and anywhere else that you have money.

If you’ve been paid redundancy, you’ll need to give full details of the payment - for example if it’s ‘statutory’ or ‘contractual’ redundancy.

Any private or occupational pension payments you get

If you get a private or occupational pension you’ll need to tell the DWP how much you get each month.

Check your pension statement - you’ll need to know the gross amount of your monthly payments. Contact your pension provider if you don’t have your latest statement.

Your current and past work

You'll need your National Insurance number and also your partner's. If you don't have one you should apply. You can find your National Insurance number or apply for one on GOV.UK.

Make a list of the jobs you've had in the last 6 months - including employer contact details and the dates you worked there

If you've done work-related courses and training in the last 6 months - check the dates and who the training was with.

Your working hours

You'll need to give the number of hours you work a week. If you do a different number each week, start by thinking if you do a regular pattern.

If there's no pattern to your work, count the hours you worked in the last 5 weeks and divide by 5 to get an average.

If you do a regular pattern, calculate how many hours you'd do each week if the work was spread evenly. For example if you work during 2 weeks but not the next, divide all the hours you work in the first 2 weeks by 3 (because your cycle is 3 weeks).

Your cycle can be a year, for example if you only work in school term time. Start with the hours you work in a week during working times. Multiply this by the number of weeks you work in a year, and divide this by 52.

If you need help working out your working hours, contact your nearest Citizens Advice.

Who you live with

You'll need the names of anyone you live with - whether they're family members or not. You might need to give information about their job, benefits and income, but you can still apply if you don't know.

Claiming 'new style' JSA

You can usually apply for ‘new style’ JSA on GOV.UK.

Take a photo or screen-shot of the message that says your claim has been sent - you might need this later to prove when you first claimed.

If you can’t apply online, call Jobcentre Plus:

If you can’t apply online or on the phone, call or visit your local Jobcentre to ask about other ways to claim - for example if English isn’t your first language, you might be able to arrange for an interpreter to help you apply.

Adding income-based JSA to your existing claim

You can only apply for income-based JSA if you're already getting contribution-based JSA. You can check if you can get income-based JSA.

Phone the claim line to apply. 

Make a note of the date and time you call the Jobcentre Plus. Also write down the name of the person you spoke to. You might need these details if you need to prove when you started your application.

If you can’t apply on the phone, call or visit your local Jobcentre to ask about other ways to apply - for example if English isn’t your first language, you might be able to arrange for an interpreter to help you apply.

Backdating new style JSA if you couldn't apply earlier

You might be able to ask for your JSA claim to be valid from an earlier date - this is called 'backdating'. You could get JSA for up to 3 months before you applied.

When you can backdate

You can only backdate your claim if you have a good reason - for example a close relative died or you were given wrong advice by the Jobcentre.

You'll usually need to have looked for a job and been available for work from the day you want your JSA to start. If this wasn't possible, you can still ask to backdate your claim but you'll need a good reason. This can be the same reason you give for wanting to backdate.

How to backdate your claim

When you apply you'll be asked when you want the claim to start. Give the date you'd have applied if you could, for example the date you were given wrong advice.

You'll need to give evidence to show why you didn't apply earlier. For example, if the Jobcentre gave you wrong information you could provide emails or letters showing what they told you.

You'll also need to prove you've been job hunting and available for work. Keep anything that shows this, for example copies of job applications or emails showing you registered with a job website.

It can be difficult to prove that you're entitled to backdated payments - contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you need help.

What happens next when you claim new style JSA

You'll get a text or phone call inviting you to an interview at the Jobcentre to finish your claim. If you don't get this after 2 working days, call your Jobcentre.

Coronavirus – interviews

You might be asked to go to a face-to-face interview at the Jobcentre Plus. 

Call the Jobcentre Plus if you’re worried about going to an interview in person. The number will be on the interview invitation - or you can look up their contact details on GOV.UK. 

You should plan for your interview by thinking about the job hunting and working arrangements that will be suitable for you. 

If you own your home, the DWP might ask if you want to apply for support for mortgage interest (SMI). SMI is a government loan to help pay the interest on your mortgage or another home loan.

The DWP will usually ask about SMI 7 or 8 months after you claim JSA - this is because most SMI payments can only start 39 weeks (about 9 months) after you claim JSA. If you don’t hear from the DWP, check if you can get SMI and when your payments could start.