Can i go onto job seekers allowance?

ive looked into it a little bit but im confused, the thing is im currently in college im 17 and i receive ema but over the summer i don't get paid ema and was wondering would i be able to claim from the dole in the uk the (job centres) during those 8 weeks i have off my dad said to me that when he was my age he could get money from them because he wasnt working and im just wondering if ill be able to aswell and if i can how do i go about doing it best help gets top points. thankyou