Jobbing student seeks allowance
Question
I'm currently studying and I'm also looking for a job. What is the maximum amount of hours I'm allowed to study for and claim Jobseeker's Allowance?
Answer
Most full-time students in higher education are not able to claim Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) during term time or vacations unless they have children. If you are a part time student you may be able to claim but this can depend on the interpretation of each Job Centre. A full time student is defined as someone undertaking 21 or more hours of guided study per week.
There is nothing to stop you taking a part time job while studying and you do not need to register with the Job Centre. If you decide to take a job, your employer may take tax and national insurance contributions from your earnings if you earn above the lower earnings limit of about £80 per week.
You may want to talk to student services about this or find out more from the Job Centre website.
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