Editing Jobseeker's Allowance (section)

{{short description|British social security benefit}}
{{distinguish|Social security in Australia#JobSeeker Payment{{!}}JobSeeker Payment}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}

'''Jobseeker's Allowance''' ('''JSA''') is an  [[Unemployment benefits|unemployment benefit]] paid by the [[Government of the United Kingdom]] to people who are [[Unemployment|unemployed]] and actively seeking work. It is part of the [[Welfare spending|social security]] benefits system and is intended to cover living expenses while the claimant is out of work.

JSA is administered by the [[Department for Work and Pensions]] (DWP) in England, Wales, and Scotland, and in Northern Ireland by the [[Department for Communities]]. Claimants must be between 18 years of age and the [[State Pension (United Kingdom)#State Pension age|State Pension age]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_200090.html |title=Jobseeker's Allowance |author=Directgov |publisher=HM Government |work=Public services all in one place |access-date=1 September 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903100419/http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_200090.html |archive-date=3 September 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

There is now one form of the benefit, based on [[National Insurance]] contributions, referred to by the DWP as ''New Style Jobseeker's Allowance'' or ''New Style JSA'' for short.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance|title=New Style Jobseeker's Allowance|author=[[Department for Work and Pensions]]|date=3 January 2024 |access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref> The previous form of the benefit, which was based on income and had replaced [[Income Support]] for most customers in 1996, is no longer available. [[Universal Credit]] was due to replace Jobseeker's Allowance and other benefits for 500,000 new claimants from October 2013,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2011/nov-2011/dwp123-11.shtml |title=Iain Duncan Smith sets out next steps for moving claimants onto Universal Credit |author=Department for work and pensions |publisher=HM Government |work=Newsroom |date=1 November 2011 |access-date=1 September 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912163947/http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2011/nov-2011/dwp123-11.shtml |archive-date=12 September 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and eventually will replace income-based Jobseeker's Allowance entirely.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/universal-credit/ |title=Universal Credit |author=Department for work and pensions |publisher=HM Government |work=Policy |access-date=1 September 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829062817/http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/universal-credit/ |archive-date=29 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

To be eligible for JSA, claimants must state that they are actively seeking work by filling in a ''Jobseeker's Agreement'' form and attending a New Jobseeker interview (NJI). They must also go to a [[Jobcentre Plus]] every two weeks to "sign on", that is, to certify that they are still actively seeking work. Until 2020, claims for Jobseeker's Allowance were maintained by the [[legacy system|legacy]] [[Jobcentre Plus|Jobseeker's Allowance Payment System (JSAPS)]].