Available for work and actively seeking work
Available for work
You must be available for work to get Jobseeker's Allowance. This means that you must usually be able to start a job immediately. However, this is different if you look after someone or are doing voluntary work for a non-profit organisation. If you have caring responsibilities or are doing voluntary work, you have to be available to start a job with one week’s notice but you must be available for a job interview within 48 hours’ notice. These times are longer if you're responsible for the care of a child under 16.
In some cases, Jobcentre Plus has to treat you as if you're available for work. This means you could get JSA even if you're not able to start work straightaway. This may apply to you, for example, if you have experienced domestic violence, or in some cases where a domestic emergency such as homelessness affects you, your close relative or your close friend.
If you have a medical condition, you may be able to restrict yourself to particular types of jobs or jobs where you only have to work certain hours. You will have to provide medical evidence to allow you to restrict your availability for work like this. However, if your medical condition or a disability means it would be very difficult for you to find suitable work, you may not be able to get Jobseeker's Allowance and have to claim other benefits instead.
For more information about benefits if you are sick or disabled, see Benefits for people who are sick or disabled.
If you're responsible for a child under 16, you may be able to restrict your availability for work. You may be able to restrict your availability so that you're only available to work 16 hours a week. If your child is under 13, you may also be able to restrict your availability so that you're only available to work during your child's normal school hours.
During school holidays and if your child is excluded from school you may be allowed to claim Jobseeker's Allowance. You may be able to do this even though you aren't available for work because of your childcare responsibilities. But you'll need to show that it's not reasonable for you to make other childcare arrangements. For example, this might be because there's no suitable childcare available in your area, or because it's too expensive.
If you are claiming income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance as one of a couple, you may both have to be available for work (see under Job seeking conditions).
For more information on restricting your availability for work and what being available for work means, you should consult an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.