3. Basic rules
As well as being a student who is eligible for jobseeker’s allowance (JSA), you must satisfy all of the basic rules.
1s1 JSA 1995•You are available for work
. You must be willing and able to take up work immediately (although some people are allowed notice). You must be prepared to work at least 40 hours a week. People with
caring responsibilities and
disabled people can restrict themselves to fewer than 40 hours. During your child’s school holidays, you are not expected to be available for work if there is no childcare reasonable for you to arrange, but this provision does not apply if you are a full-time student.
2Reg 15(4) JSA Regs •You are actively seeking work.
•You have a claimant commitment. This sets out, for instance, the hours you have agreed to work, the type of work you are looking for and any restrictions on travel and pay.
•If you are doing any work, it is for less than 16 hours a week. You can get contribution-based JSA if your partner is working, but not income-based JSA unless s/he works less than 24 hours a week.
•You are capable of work (although you can continue to get JSA for up to 13 weeks while sick).
•You are under pension age (age 66 from October 2020).
•You are in Great Britain, although JSA can be paid in other countries in some circumstances. See CPAG’s Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook for details.
•You meet the conditions for either contribution-based JSA or income-based JSA (see below). If you meet the conditions for both, you get contribution-based JSA topped up by income-based JSA.