JSA rates 2026/27 and how you are paid
New-style JSA is paid at a flat weekly rate that depends only on your age. There are no additions for rent, children, or a partner inside JSA itself: those are Universal Credit matters. The rates below are the current GOV.UK figures, and they match the personal allowances set out in the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026. If you see a different figure on another site, check its date first: JSA rates are reviewed each year, and last year's figures are the most common error in online guides.
The 2026/27 weekly amounts
| Age | Weekly amount (maximum) |
|---|---|
| Up to 24 | Up to £75.65 |
| 25 or over | Up to £95.55 |
GOV.UK words these as maximums, and that wording matters. You may get less if you have part-time earnings or pension income that reduces the award. Use a benefits calculator, as GOV.UK suggests, to check how JSA interacts with your other benefits before relying on the headline figure for budgeting. Remember too that the amount is weekly, while payment itself is fortnightly, so a single payment normally covers two weeks at the weekly rate, less any deductions.
How long it lasts
You can get new-style JSA for up to 182 days, about six months. GOV.UK repeats that limit in both its summary and its detail pages, and it is the figure to plan around. The 182 days run from the start of your entitlement, and time spent on the claim counts whether or not you are actively receiving the full rate in a given week. When the 182 days end, the JSA claim ends: there is no extension of new-style JSA itself, although Universal Credit may continue or begin, as explained on the when JSA ends page.
Waiting and first payment
GOV.UK says you may have to wait up to seven days after applying for your JSA to start, and up to two weeks after that to get your first payment, and that the first payment may not be for the full amount. After the first payment, payments are usually made every two weeks at the full amount. Budget for that gap: the first money can arrive roughly three weeks after you apply, even on a straightforward claim.
How you are paid
All benefits are usually paid into a bank, building society, or credit union account, GOV.UK states. When you apply you are asked for your account details, or those of a family member or trusted friend if you do not have an account of your own. Keep those details up to date, and tell Jobcentre Plus at once if your account changes: a payment sent to a closed account is one of the most avoidable delays in the whole process. If you cannot open or manage an account, raise it at your interview so an alternative payment arrangement can be discussed.
What reduces the headline rate
Two reductions are flagged on GOV.UK. Earnings from part-time work under sixteen hours a week can reduce the amount, and pension income is declared at the claim stage with a statement letter for any private pension, workplace pension, or annuity you have bought. GOV.UK does not publish a single deduction formula on its summary page, because the calculation depends on your circumstances, so do not try to work out the reduction from a rule of thumb you read elsewhere. Report the income, let the Department for Work and Pensions calculate it, and check the award letter against what you declared.
Sources: GOV.UK, Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), What you will get and How you are paid sections; The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 (SI 2026/148), Schedule 2, Part I (personal allowances).