The information is not available as no record is made of the number of claims made for jobseeker’s allowance each month.
However, the number of active jobseeker’s allowance claims is recorded. The available information has been placed in the Library and is also available online at:
https://www.nomisweb.co.uk
(2) whether person’s entitlement to contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance is means-tested according to the (a) savings and (b) personal or occupational pension income of that (i) person and (ii) their household.
[holding answer 4 March 2010]: There are two types of jobseeker’s allowance—contribution-based and income-based. Contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance is based on how many national insurance contributions have been paid over the last two complete tax years.
Income-based jobseeker’s allowance is dependent on income and savings. For contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance, personal and household capital and savings are not taken into account when determining entitlement. However, periodic payments of occupational and personal pensions made to the person claiming contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance are taken into account. Pension payments made to anyone else within the household are not considered when deciding entitlement.
When assessing the amount of contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance that is payable to a person who is in receipt of a personal or occupational pension, the first £50 per week of that pension is disregarded. For each 1 pence over and above the £50 disregard, 1 pence of jobseeker’s allowance is deducted. Under the present arrangements contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance is only withdrawn completely from those with pension or annuity payments of more than £114.30 per week, based on April 2009 benefit rates.
General guidance on the application and interpretation of jobseeker’s allowance rules for our decision makers can be found in the decision makers guide. A copy of the guide is available in the Library and on the Department for Work and Pensions’ website at
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/decision-makers-guide/