Editing Jobseeker's Allowance (section)

===Earlier history===
{{see|National Insurance|National Assistance|Supplementary Benefit}}
Unemployment Benefit was first introduced in 1911 under the [[National Insurance Act 1911]] to job seekers who had paid [[National Insurance]] contributions ("the stamp").  The maximum amount payable was seven shillings a week ({{inflation|UK|0.35|1911|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}).<ref name="nationalarchives.gov.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cabinetpapers/themes/insurance-introduced.htm|title=The Cabinet Papers - Insurance introduced|work=nationalarchives.gov.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417024645/http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cabinetpapers/themes/insurance-introduced.htm|archive-date=17 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> These payments were thus made only to people who had recently been in work, and not simply to those on low incomes. Furthermore, benefits were only paid for up to twelve months, by which time a claimant had to have regained work.

The [[Unemployment Insurance Act 1921|Unemployment Insurance Act]] of March 1921 introduced a 'seeking work' test which required claimants to be actively seeking work and willing to accept employment paying a [[fair wage]]. In February 1922 a [[means test]] was introduced which excluded some, such as single adults who lived with relatives, from receiving benefit payments.<ref name="nationalarchives.gov.uk"/>

As a direct consequence of the return from war of injured servicemen,<ref>[[Hansard]] →{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmhansrd.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-09-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813222059/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmhansrd.htm |archive-date=13 August 2017 |df=dmy-all }} – UK Parliament [https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/acts/j HANSARD 1803–2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126175806/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/acts/j |date=26 November 2012 }}  – Retrieved 6 June 2012</ref><ref>secondary – The World at War 1973 (Jeremy Isaacs) – [https://www.imdb.com/media/rm1202887936/tt0071075 The Internet Movie Database] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315045017/http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1202887936/tt0071075 |date=15 March 2016 }} & [http://www.tkone.co.uk/index.php/projects/2-world-at-war TK one Ltd]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125081840/http://www.tkone.co.uk/index.php/projects/2-world-at-war |date=25 November 2010 }} – Retrieved 6 June 2012</ref> the [[Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944]] was brought into force to enable these to secure employment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo6/7-8/10/contents |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=legislation.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Butler |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FoDkxqEjlUcC |title=Business Planning: A Guide to Business Start-Up |date=2007-06-07 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-136-42348-2 |language=en}}</ref>

After the Second World War, [[National Assistance]] was introduced by the [[National Assistance Act 1948]] ([[11 & 12 Geo. 6]]. c. 29), allowing anyone of working age on a low income to apply for support.

National Assistance was replaced by [[Supplementary Benefit]] in November 1966, and Unemployment Benefit claimants could transfer to this after their initial entitlement had expired. Supplementary Benefit was later replaced by [[Income Support]] in April 1988.