A-Z of Benefits

Single person
Aged 16-24 or lone parent under 18 - £47.95
Aged 25 + - £60.50

Couples
Both aged under 18 - £72.35
Both aged 18+ - £94.95

Plus additional premiums for disability, caring etc

Who is it for?
Those registered unemployed and looking for work. Two types of payment - contribution-based (CB) and income-based (IB).

Who pays it?
JobCentre Plus

Which leaflet? And how is it claimed?
JSA L5, Helping You Back To Work. Claim at JobCentre Plus office. Claims will normally be made by phone (0800 0556688) and followed up with a work-focussed interview at Job Centre Plus but paper claims are still acceptable and claimants should not be refused access to them.  .

What are the age limits?
Up to pensionable age only.

National Insurance based?
Yes, for contribution-based JSA. No for income-based JSA.

Means tested?
Yes, for income-based JSA.

How long does it last?
Contribution-based JSA lasts for 6 months only. Income-based JSA is similar to Income Support.

What is effect on other benefits?
Contribution-based JSA overlaps with NI benefits and counts in full for means tested benefits.

Is it taxable?
Yes.

Increases for dependants?
No, for adult or child dependent on contribution-based JSA.  Same rules as income support for those on income-based JSA.

Payable if in EU or other?
Contribution-based JSA is payable for up to 3 months subject to EU law. Income-based JSA is not.

Points to watch
All occupational and personal pensions over £50 will affect JSA(CB). 'Sanctions' applied if claimant does not keep JSA agreement or leaves work voluntarily without good cause (unless redundant). Various 'New Deal' schemes (under 25s, lone parents, disabled workers) on offer but to be replaced by Flexible new Deal. Proposals to make young claimants do 4 weeks compulsory work if unemployed after a year and to make all those unemployed for 2+ years to do community work in exchange for JSA

The A-Z of Benefits 2008 was compiled by Gary Vaux and Community Care.