Benefits based on your national insurance contributions
Last updated: 01/04/2021
If you are not working you may get new style jobseeker’s allowance or new style employment and support allowance if you have made the necessary national insurance contributions when you were working.
If you are not sure if you have made enough contributions to qualify 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 will be expected to do some work related tasks to get them. You will also need to have a health assessment for new style employment and support allowance.
Jobseeker’s allowance rates:
Single parents aged 16 or 17: £59.0
Single parents aged 18 and over: £74.70
Employment and support allowance rates:
Single parent aged 16 or 17: £59.20
Single parent 18 and over: £74.70
Additional support component: £39.40
Claim new style jobseeker’s allowance
You can apply online or call Jobcentre Plus is you need help.
Call Jobcentre Plus: 0800 055 66 88
Textphone: 0800 023 4888
Claim online: http://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance
Claim new style employment and support allowance
You can apply on-line or call Jobcentre Plus if you need help. You also need to give Jobcentre Plus a medical certificate from your doctor.
Universal credit helpline (Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm):
Telephone: 0800 328 5644 (choose option 2)
Textphone: 0800 328 1344 (choose option 2)
Claim on-line: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance
