Jobseekers Allowance - Rejected

viv12345

I have worked full time from 1966 to 1984 and then part time from 1985 till July 2008 when I was made redundant. Was working 4 days a week until last 2 years when this was reduced to 15-17 hours per week.

My pension forecast says I am fully paid up as I have done the min 30 years requirement.

I decided two weeks ago to seek Jobseekers Allowance. Filled out all the forms and have had a letter back rejecting my application. Reason I have not paid in enough NI contributions in past two years.

Is this right? Is there anything I can do?

Thanks for any help.

LittleVoice

If you didn't earn enough to pay sufficient NI contributions in the contribution years to which they refer then, yes, this is correct.

Pension is separate issue from JSA.

viv12345

Thats incredible. I have worked from 1966 to 2008 with only breaks for having two kids and I have no rights to Jobseekers Allowance.

LittleVoice

By the way did you pay the "full stamp" or the reduced married woman's rate? It sounds as though you did pay the full standard rate and that your pension forecast acknowledges that. If not, though, you might want to pay additional voluntary contributions to get a full pension.

catmiaow

Tell them you want to apply for income based Jobseekers allowance and not contribution based, they should be able to change it over easily enough.

viv12345

Little Voice

I have made enough contributions for my full pension. I have the pension forecast.

Problem with income based contribution is I have over £10k in savings.

sammyjammy

When you are working 15-17 hours how much were you being paid? You only pay NI if you earn more than £91 per week and you get one contribution for each week you earn over that. Would that have applied to you? Sometimes there is a problem with employers not paying the contirbution due and others, you should ask them to investigate your contribution record if you believe you are entitled, I've posted the actual requirements somewhere I'll see if I can find them

sammyjammy

You need to satisfy both of these

First contribution condition
The first contribution condition is satisfied if, in either of the previous two tax years before the claim is made, the customer has actually paid Class 1 contributions or share fisherman's/volunteer development worker's Class 2 contributions on earnings of at least 25 times the lower earnings limit for that tax year.
Second contribution condition
The second contribution condition is satisfied if he has paid and/or been credited with Class 1 contributions of not less than 50 times the lower earnings limit in both the last two complete tax years before the benefit year in which the jobseeking period begins.
The Lower earnings limit is currently £91, if are looking at this you still think you are eligible you need to get them to investigate.

catmiaow

The savings would be an issue with contribution based too. 10k of savings is pretty good so it doesn't sound your in desperate need, I wish I had that right now.

LittleVoice

catmiaow wrote: »

The savings would be an issue with contribution based too. 10k of savings is pretty good so it doesn't sound your in desperate need, I wish I had that right now.

Savings have nothing to do with contributions based JSA, so not an issue at all for that type of JSA.