Updated for 2026/27 Independent estimate Not GOV.UK

Contribution-based JSA calculator (New Style)

Check whether contribution-based New Style JSA may apply and what the weekly amount could be.

Fast answer first Designed for mobile and desktop Updated to current published rates
Coverage note: UK-wide estimator using current published rules, with local or case-specific limitations explained below.

Contribution-based JSA calculator (New Style)

Adjust the inputs and review the answer cards, chart and breakdown together.

Live answer card summary
2026/27
Main details
Assumptions
£96 estimate £2,484/yr
Indicative weekly New Style JSA £95.55
Indicative six-month JSA total £2,484.30
Weekly JSA used £95.55

Breakdown

Weekly JSA used £95.55
Hours worked each week £0.00

Important notes

New claims are for New Style JSA. Income-based JSA is a legacy benefit.
If your NI record is weak or your income is low, Universal Credit may be the more relevant route to check.

A modern JSA page for current search intent

Many search results for JSA are still mixed with old legacy information. This page is aimed at the live reality: New Style JSA, contribution conditions, and the interaction with low-hours work. That makes it more useful for someone trying to decide what to claim now.

The output is intentionally modest because a lot of the real value is in showing whether JSA is even the right route to investigate.

Why hours and NI record matter most

The two questions that knock out many would-be JSA claims are whether recent Class 1 contributions are strong enough and whether work exceeds the low-hours limit. Those are handled directly in the page rather than buried in long eligibility text.

That keeps the experience practical while still leaving room for explanatory content underneath the tool.

When Universal Credit is likely to be the more important page

If your NI record is weak, your savings are low and you need broader support with rent or children, Universal Credit is often the more relevant next page. The architecture of this site assumes that users move across those clusters rather than staying inside one benefit only.

That cross-linking is deliberate: it improves usefulness and preserves the internal-topic-cluster strengths of the original site.

Related calculators for this topic

Use the linked calculators and guides below to test the next question people usually have after this estimate.

Frequently asked questions

How much contribution-based JSA does this estimator use?
It uses up to £75.65 a week for ages 18 to 24 and up to £95.55 a week for age 25 or over, the 2026/27 New Style (contribution-based) JSA rates.
What is the difference between contribution-based JSA and income-based JSA?
New Style (contribution-based) JSA is based on your National Insurance record and is available for up to 182 days. Income-based JSA is no longer open to new claims, Universal Credit replaces it.
Can you get JSA if you work 16 hours or more a week?
Usually no, which is why this page sets the estimate to zero once hours reach 16 or more.
Does contribution-based JSA depend on savings?
No. New Style (contribution-based) JSA is not means tested and is not affected by your savings or partner's income. Only your NI record and hours worked matter.

Independent estimate only

This page is written to answer the real search query quickly, then hand off to the official process and the more specific guides that decide the final outcome. That is deliberate: these pages are designed to be useful, not generic.