Home/UK/New Style Jobseekers Allowance Jsa Calculator
DWP New Style JSA 2026/27£95.55/Wk Age 25+182 Days Maximum

New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance Calculator & Eligibility Guide 2026/27

Estimate your New Style JSA using the current 2026/27 weekly rates of £75.65 for claimants up to 24 and £95.55 for claimants aged 25 or over.

Universal Credit Guide →UK Benefits Hub →

New Style JSA Benefit Estimator

Illustrative estimate based on age, NI eligibility and optional part-time earnings.

GOV.UK says you usually can earn up to £5/week before earnings affect New Style JSA.

Estimated JSA Result

Headline Weekly Rate
£95.55
2026/27
Estimated Weekly Payment
£95.55
Based on entered earnings
Maximum 26-Week Headline Total
£2484.30
182 days

New Style JSA Rates 2026/27

DWP's confirmed 2026/27 benefit rates set the contribution-based JSA personal rates at £75.65 per week for claimants under 25 and £95.55 per week for claimants aged 25 or over.

AgeWeekly RateFortnightly Equivalent26-Week Headline Total
Up to 24£75.65£151.30£1,966.90
25 or over£95.55£191.10£2,484.30

New Style JSA Eligibility

In Great Britain, you generally need to have worked as an employee and paid enough Class 1 National Insurance contributions, usually in the two full tax years before the year in which you claim. National Insurance credits can count for one of the relevant years in specified circumstances.

ConditionCurrent general rule
Age18 or over and under State Pension age.
LocationMust be in Great Britain. Northern Ireland has separate rules.
WorkNormally unemployed or working fewer than 16 hours a week.
NI recordUsually sufficient Class 1 contributions in the two relevant full tax years; credits can count in specified cases.
AvailabilityYou must be available for work and comply with the requirements agreed with your work coach.

Class 1 National Insurance: Which Years Are Checked?

The relevant tax years depend on when you apply. GOV.UK currently explains that the two relevant full tax years are normally checked immediately before the year of the claim.

For example, GOV.UK states that a claim made on or before 3 January 2026 used the tax years 2023/24 and 2022/23, while a claim made on or after 4 January 2026 used 2024/25 and 2023/24. This means the exact contribution years should always be checked against the application date.

New Style JSA vs Universal Credit

New Style JSA

  • Contribution-based benefit.
  • Based primarily on the claimant's NI record.
  • Partner income and savings are not taken into account.
  • Own earnings and some pension income can affect payment.
  • Normally available for up to 182 days.

Universal Credit

  • Means-tested benefit.
  • Household circumstances are relevant.
  • Capital rules apply.
  • New Style JSA counts as income if both are received.
  • Can continue beyond the 182-day JSA period where eligible.

Working While Claiming New Style JSA

You must tell Jobcentre Plus about work you do while receiving New Style JSA. You cannot usually receive the benefit if you work 16 or more hours a week, although the precise rules include exceptions.

If you work fewer than 16 hours, you may still be eligible, but your earnings can reduce the amount of JSA you receive. Current DWP guidance says you usually can earn up to £5 a week before earnings affect New Style JSA.

Claimant Commitment and Work Coach Requirements

When claiming New Style JSA you must agree a Claimant Commitment with your work coach. It sets out the actions you will take to find work or increase your income.

The commitment is not a universal fixed “35 hours a week” requirement. The actions and amount of job-search activity are agreed according to your circumstances, including health, caring responsibilities and the support you need. Failure to comply without good reason can result in sanctions.

How to Apply for New Style JSA

The current GOV.UK online application asks for your National Insurance number, bank or building-society details and employment details for the previous 6 months, including employer contact details and dates worked.

You may also need to provide information about a private or workplace pension or an annuity. GOV.UK states that you can ask for a claim to be backdated by up to three months in certain circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions (6)

For 2026/27, the standard weekly New Style JSA rate is £95.55 per week for claimants aged 25 or older, and £75.65 per week for claimants aged 18 to 24. Payments are issued fortnightly directly into your bank account for up to a maximum of 182 days (26 weeks).

For 2026/27, the maximum New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance is £75.65 a week for claimants aged up to 24 and £95.55 a week for claimants aged 25 or over. It can normally be paid for up to 182 days (26 weeks). Actual payment can be affected by earnings, certain pension income, sanctions or other circumstances.

Claimants must work fewer than 16 hours per week to qualify for New Style JSA. DWP applies an earnings disregard of £5 per week for single individuals, or £20 per week for certain special groups (such as lone parents, disabled claimants, or specific volunteer roles). Any net earnings above the disregard are deducted pound-for-pound from your weekly JSA payment. If your earnings exceed your JSA rate, no payment is made for that week.

Generally no. New Style JSA requires sufficient Class 1 National Insurance contributions as an employee in the two relevant tax years. Self-employed individuals typically pay Class 2 and Class 4 contributions, which do not qualify for New Style JSA. However, self-employed workers who have experienced a sudden drop in business income or ceased trading may be eligible to claim means-tested Universal Credit.

For Great Britain, you generally need to be aged 18 or over and under State Pension age, be in Great Britain, be unemployed or normally working fewer than 16 hours a week, and have worked as an employee with sufficient Class 1 National Insurance contributions in the relevant tax years. National Insurance credits can count for one of the relevant years. There are additional conditions and exceptions.

Your savings and your partner’s savings or income are not taken into account when determining New Style JSA in the way they are for means-tested Universal Credit. However, your own earnings and some pension income can affect the amount of New Style JSA you receive.

You may be able to claim both New Style JSA and Universal Credit if you meet the conditions for both. New Style JSA is treated as income for Universal Credit, so the amount of JSA you receive reduces the Universal Credit award. The two benefits also provide different National Insurance credit arrangements.

You must usually have paid or been credited with enough Class 1 National Insurance contributions in the two full tax years before the year in which you claim. GOV.UK gives specific relevant tax-year examples depending on the date of the claim. The exact contribution test should be checked against your National Insurance record rather than assuming that any Class 1 contribution is sufficient.

New Style JSA can normally be paid for up to 182 days. It does not automatically convert into Universal Credit. After the payment period ends, your work coach can discuss your options, which may include Universal Credit or other support depending on your circumstances. You may also still be able to receive appropriate National Insurance credits in some circumstances.

Official DWP Sources

JSA 2026/27 Quick Reference

Up to age 24£75.65/week
Age 25+£95.55/week
Maximum period182 days
Typical NI test2 tax years
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Important

This calculator is an educational estimator. DWP makes the actual decision after checking your National Insurance record, work status, earnings, pension income and other eligibility conditions.

Great Britain vs Northern Ireland

The main GOV.UK JSA rules used by this page concern Great Britain. Northern Ireland has separate Jobseeker’s Allowance administration and eligibility guidance through nidirect.

Universal Credit Guide

Compare New Style JSA with means-tested Universal Credit.