Check if you can add income-based JSA to your claim

Universal Credit has replaced income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) for most people – check if you can claim Universal Credit.

You can only get income-based JSA if you’re already getting contribution-based JSA.

You must also:

• be single, or have a partner who works for less than 24 hours a week on average

• have £16,000 or less in savings (including your partner’s savings)

You can’t get income-based JSA if you’re already getting ‘new style’ JSA.

How much JSA you’ll get

If you’re eligible for income-related JSA you can get up to:

• £71.70 if you’re 18 to 24

• £90.50 if you’re 25 or over

• £142.25 if you get income-related JSA as a couple

The exact amount you get will depend on your circumstances - for example, your payment might be less if you work part-time or get a pension.

You can get extra payments on top of your personal allowance in some cases - these are called ‘premiums’. You get a premium if you claim income-based JSA and you or your partner is:

• disabled

• a carer getting Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment

• over State Pension age

You can get both contribution-based JSA and income-related JSA at the same time. The DWP will check how much you can get for each of them. The total JSA you’ll get is whichever amount is higher.

If you're 18 or over, you can use the Turn2us benefits calculator to work out how much you can get, or contact your nearest Citizens Advice.

Getting help with housing costs

If you get income-based JSA, you might get extra payments to help with your housing costs - these are usually paid straight to your landlord, lender or mortgage provider.

You need to ask for help with housing costs when you apply for income-based JSA over the phone.

If you rent your home

You might qualify for Housing Benefit to help pay rent while you get income-based JSA - find out how much you could get on GOV.UK.

If you have a mortgage or other loan for your home

You might be able to get a government loan to help pay the interest on a mortgage, or another loan to pay for things like:

• the freehold of your property

• your ex-partner’s share in your property

• major repairs and improvements

The loan is called ‘support for mortgage interest' (SMI). You’ll need to pay it back - but only when you sell your home or give it to someone else.

SMI is usually paid directly to your mortgage or loan provider. It only helps pay the interest on what you’ve borrowed, not the repayments.

SMI will usually start 39 weeks (about 9 months) after you claim JSA.

If the DWP think you can get SMI, they’ll ask if you want to apply for it. They’ll usually ask 7 or 8 months after you claim JSA.

If you pay ground rent or service charge

You can get an additional JSA payment to help with your ground rent if your lease has more than 21 years left. You won’t have to pay this money back.

You might also be able to get help paying service charges if they’re for:

• building insurance - if it’s part of a condition of your lease

• small repairs, for example to water pipes or heating

• small improvements, for example painting a hallway

You can’t normally get help with your service charge if it’s for major improvements or repairs, but there are some exceptions - for example if your home would’ve been unsafe without structural repairs.

It can take up to 39 weeks to get these expenses included in your income-based JSA claim, so it’s best to apply for them as soon as possible.

Next steps

• Find out how to apply for income-based JSA