SE76221 - Social Security benefits: jobseeker's allowance

Section 151A ICTA 1988

How Jobseeker's allowance is made up

The amount of JSA someone receives depends on his or her circumstances.

Everyone receives a basic personal allowance. The amount of that allowance depends on the age of the person and whether he or she is claiming as a single person or on behalf of a couple. The basic personal allowances payable during 1999/2000 were the same whether someone was entitled to contribution based JSA or income based JSA.

The rates were as follows.

Some people receive extra amounts on top of the basic personal allowance to cover their particular circumstances. For example, for dependent children or if the person claiming has a disability. These amounts are only available to people who qualify for income based JSA.

The JSA basic personal allowance is nothing to do with income tax personal allowances.