Claiming Jobseekers' allowance - JSA

If you telephone to make a claim for Jobseekers' Allowance, you will then be given an appointment to visit the Jobcentre. The same applies to online 'applications'. You still have to go through the procedure of an appointment at the Job centre. (An online application, simply prevents the jobcentre from having to pick up the phone!)

Once at the Jobcentre, you will have an interview with an 'advisor' who will explain to you the procedure of drawing up a 'Jobseekers Allowance' Agreement. This agreement will set out what you have to do, to try to find work and therefore be eligible to claim the Jobseekers' Allowance. If you do not agree to the agreement, then you will not get Jobseekers' Allowance.

The first meeting/appointment will set out and determine what you should do to find work. The next meetings - probably every fortnight - will assess how well you are doing. If there is a problem with what you are actually doing in order to find work, then your advisor will point you in the right direction, and might suggest other avenues for you to pursue in order to get work.

The interview process is ongoing, and designed purely to 'help' you get work. If you want to continue with the Jobseekers' Allowance, then you will need to heed what is said, and act upon it. After about thirteen weeks, if you have not succeeded in finding work, you will be asked to attend a review interview.

The 'review interview' will simply review what steps you have been taking, and then further steps may be suggested.

The JSA Interview Procedure.

If you are worried about attending interviews, then you have the right to take a relative or friend that you can trust. Explain to your advisor that you are a bit worried about interviews. Do NOT let your friend or relative take over the interview. The last thing you need to do is to put the back up of the advisor. Remember, they have a job to do, and a set procedure to follow. they do not make the rules. Like you, they have to follow them.