Contribution based JSA

Darkstar

I am trying to get confirmation on how contribution based JSA works. My wife started on maternity leave in April 2006 for 6 months and then did not restart back with her previous employer instead electing to look after our two children. With our eldest now at school she is starting to look for work as we hope her salary will cover one child in nursery. We know she can not claim income based JSA due to my salary. Since contribution based JSA requires enough NI contributions over the last two years I guess that would cover 2006/7 when she was on maternity pay and making NI payments. Should this be enough.

stazi

To qualify for JSA (C), she needed to have earnings on which they have been treated as counting for NIC as follows-
05/06 £4100
06/07 £4200

This info will be on her P60's for these tax years.

Darkstar

She has the earnings for 05/06 and for 06/07. We were worried about 07/08 when she earned nothing due to her extended maternity leave.

stazi

The tax year 07/08 will not be used until Jan 2009 for JSA(C) and ESA claims.

Darkstar

Ok, so since she will not start her claim until September that means she may only get 4 months as the last two months would need earnings in 07/08 which she dose not have. Hopefully that will not be a problem as I hope she can get a job within 4 months.

stazi

No. The tax years used for new claims from Jan 09 will be 06/07 and 07/08. Claims starting now in 2008, use 05/06 and 06/07 even if the claim is still open in 2009. JSA (C) is payable for a max of 26 weeks.

Darkstar

I am happy to report that my wife received notification today that she is eligible for JSA(C) and that she will remain eligible for the full 26 weeks, thanks to all that responded earlier.

Tongue

Question for Stazi:

My friend is claiming JSA cont based and has had 96 days upto 28 August and has been told her 26 week (182 days) will end on 22 November 2008 can you confirm this?

Also when would she be able to claim a new lot of 26 weeks JSA cont based?

1/ would it be 1 Jan 09 (using 06/07 and 07/08)
2/ After 13 weeks from 22 November 2008?
3/ something completely different?

ta