Benefits based on your National Insurance contributions

You may get new style Jobseeker’s Allowance if you are made redundant or leave your job for reasons other than illness or disability. You may get new style Employment and Support Allowance if you leave work due to illness or disability. You will need to under go an assessment for new style Employment and Support Allowance. After the assessment you may get one of 2 amounts depending on the result.

If you are not sure if you have made enough National Insurance contributions to qualify for new style Jobseeker’s Allowance or new style Employment and Support Allowance you can claim Universal Credit at the same time and will receive whatever one you are entitled to. New style Jobseeker’s Allowance and new style Employment and Support Allowance are generally not based on your income, or affected by it, unlike Universal Credit.

Both new style  Jobseeker’s Allowance and new style Employment and Support Allowance come under the same rules as Universal Credit so you may be expected to do some work related tasks to get them. You may need to have a health assessment for new style Employment and Support Allowance.

How much is new style Jobseeker’s Allowance and new style Employment and Support Allowance?

New style Jobseeker’s Allowance  weekly rates:

Aged under 25: £67.20

Aged 25 and over: £84.80

New style Employment and Support Allowance weekly rates:

During the assessment;

Aged under 25: £67.20

Aged 25 and over: £84.80

After the assessment

All ages: £84.80 or £129.50 depending on the result of the assessment.

More information and how to apply

New style Jobseeker’s Allowance

You can apply online or call Jobcentre Plus if you need help.

Telephone: 0800 055 66 88

Textphone: 0800 023 4888

See more information and how to claim online.

New style Employment and Support Allowance

You can apply on-line or call the Universal Credit Helpline if you need help. You also need to give Jobcentre Plus a medical certificate from your doctor.

Telephone: 0800 328 5644 (choose option 2)

Textphone: 0800 328 1344 (choose option 2)

See more information and how to claim online.

For more information on Universal Credit see: Universal Credit.