What are they?

Contributory benefits are available to help people who have paid enough national insurance contributions over a certain period of time.

There are two contributory benefits - Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - and each is available under the old legacy benefits system, where they are called 'contribution-based' or 'contributory', or the new Universal Credit system, where they are called 'new style'.

Can I get them?

The tax years that are used to check your entitlement are usually the last two complete tax years before the benefit year in which your job seeking or limited capability for work began. A tax year runs from 6 April one year to 5 April the following year. A benefit year runs from the first Sunday in January.

You can only receive contributory/new style JSA for up to 6 months. Only Class 1 National Insurance contributions count for this benefit so this is not available to most self-employed people.

If you do not have the required class 1 contributions from a previous employment - please select 'No' to the question 'Did you spend at least 26 weeks in work between 6 April 2021 and 5 April 2023?' as you will not qualify for contributory JSA.

You can only receive contributory/new style ESA for up to 12 months if you are put in the Work Related Activity Group. If you are put in the Support Group there is no limit on how long you can receive it for. Class 1 and 2 National Insurance contributions count for this benefit so it is available to the employed and self-employed.

If you do not have the required class 1 or 2 contributions - please select 'No' to the question 'Did you spend at least 26 weeks in work between 6 April 2021 and 5 April 2023?' as you will not qualify for contributory ESA.

If you have recently received your full entitlement to contributory/new style JSA or ESA as the maximum number of payable days has been reached - please select 'No' to the question 'Did you spend at least 26 weeks in work between 6 April 2021 and 5 April 2023?' or we will include a contributory benefit in your result incorrectly.

If you are not entitled to a contributory benefit we will work out your entitlement to other benefits.

To find out more about the contribution rules for each benefit see our help pages on contributory Jobseeker's Allowance or contributory Employment and Support Allowance.