Check if a change affects your new style JSA
This advice applies to England. See advice for See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Scotland, See advice for Wales
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You’ll need to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in writing about some changes to your work, money or family life. This is called a ‘change of circumstances’.
Most changes have to be reported in writing within 1 month - but you should report them as soon as you know about the change, if you can.
The change might increase your payment and you might miss out on extra money if you tell the DWP late.
You should still tell the DWP if you think a change might reduce your JSA - you won't save money by reporting it later. If you tell the DWP late you could get paid too much and have to pay your benefits back to the DWP. This is called an overpayment - check how the DWP deals with overpayments.
You should also tell your work coach about any changes that stop you keeping to your claimant commitment. Tell them even if it’s a small change, for example if changes to your childcare mean you have 3 hours less a week to look for jobs.
Changes you have to report in writing
You have to report all these changes to the DWP. It’s best to tell them about the change in writing. If you tell them over the phone, you should confirm it in writing afterwards.
You also have to tell the DWP even if another government department already knows. For example, if you tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about a change, you still need to tell the DWP.
If you’ve used the Tell Us Once service to report the death of someone claiming JSA, you don’t need to tell the DWP. Tell Us Once will let them know.
Work changes
You must tell the DWP if you:
start working (even if it’s not paid)
increase your working hours - tell the DWP if you now work 16 hours a week or more
stop working
start earning more money
start earning less money
You should tell them even if it’s just one payment, or won’t be the same amount regularly. Explain how much money you think it will be in total and how long for. If you don’t know the exact amount, work out what you think it might be and tell the DWP it’s an estimate.
If you’re starting a new job, include in your letter:
your employer’s name and address
when the job started
how many hours you work each week
how much money you earn - before tax and other deductions
if money is being taken off for a pension - tell them how much it is, if you can
Money, savings and benefit changes
You must tell the DWP about certain changes to your money or any other benefits you get.
If you claim any new benefits
Tell the DWP if you claim any new benefits. Some benefits can't be paid at the same time as new style JSA - for example, Carer's Allowance or Maternity Allowance. You'll get the benefit with the higher amount.
If you start getting a pension
You should tell the DWP if you start getting a pension, or the amount you get from a pension changes.
If you get payments when you leave a job
You must also tell the DWP if you get payments when you leave a job. Only some payments count - for example, holiday pay.
Changes to do with your home and family
You must tell the DWP if you:
start studying full-time
reach state pension age - you can check your state pension age on GOV.UK
go to prison
Changes to do with children
Tell the DWP if you start or stop being responsible for a child aged under 13. This might mean the DWP changes your claimant commitment.
You’re responsible for a child if they either live with you all the time or usually live with you and you’re their main carer.
Changes to your home
Tell the DWP if you move to a different home.
Health changes
Once you’ve told your work coach, if a health problem lasts more than 2 weeks you should also write to tell the DWP.
You might be able to continue getting new style JSA for up to 13 weeks if you provide evidence of your health problem, like a fit note.
You should tell them if you go into or leave hospital or a care home, and when you come out again.
If your health problems mean you can’t do all your work activities, ask to change your claimant commitment. It’s worth doing even for a small change, for example if regular doctor appointments mean you have 2 hours fewer a week to look for work.
When your JSA stops, you might be able to get more money by:
Writing to the DWP
Write ‘change of circumstances’ clearly at the top of the letter. Give as much information about the change as you can. For example if your partner has moved out, tell the DWP their name, when they moved and what their new address is.
Keep a copy of the letter and send copies of any evidence. For example, copies of your payslips if you’re reporting a change in income.
Ask the Post Office for proof of postage when you send the letter - you might need to prove when you posted it. Send it to the address on the letter that told you how much JSA you’ll get. If you can’t find this letter, call the DWP and ask which office to send it to.
Department for Work and Pensions Benefit Enquiry Line
Telephone: 0800 169 0310
Textphone: 0800 169 0314
Welsh language: 0800 328 1744
Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 169 0310
You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.
Video relay - if you use British Sign Language (BSL).
You can find out how to use video relay on YouTube.
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
If you’ve missed the 1-month deadline
It’s better to report a change late than not to report it at all.
You can report a change up to 13 months late, but in your letter you’ll need to explain why you couldn’t report the change on time. For example, if you were sick for a number of weeks.
You’ll get any extra JSA from the date you reported the change. If you’re entitled to less JSA, your payments will be reduced from the date of the change. This means if you reported the change after it happened you might have been overpaid - and will usually need to pay the money back.
Finding out how much you’ll get after the change
The DWP might ask you for more information so they can work out how much to pay you. They’ll send you a letter telling you:
what information you need to send them
when you need to send it by
It’s important to send the DWP the information they’re asking for in time - if you don’t, they might stop your JSA. Ask the Post Office for proof of postage when you send it. Call the DWP if there’s anything you can’t send.
When the DWP have got the information they need they’ll write to you to explain how your JSA will change. Look out for the letter - this confirms they’ve recorded your change of circumstances and will be paying you the right amount of JSA.
They’ll also tell you if there’s anything else you need to do.
Check the letter to make sure the DWP have recorded the right change of circumstances. If the DWP has made a mistake, you should tell them.
If you don’t get a letter from the DWP within 3 weeks
Call the DWP and ask them if they’ve recorded your change of circumstances. You’ll need details of what the change was and when you told them about it - for example proof of postage if you sent a letter.
Try to save the extra JSA if you think the DWP might be paying you too much. This will make it easier to pay it back if you need to.
Your nearest Citizens Advice can help if you’re having trouble reporting a change of circumstances.
Help us improve our website
Take 5 minutes to tell us if you found what you needed on our website. Your feedback will help us give millions of people the information they need.
Page last reviewed on 30 July 2026