Refused Job Seekers Allowance - please advise

gabacabriel

Have recently been made redundant, and learned this morning that my claim for JSA has been refused on the grounds that "you have not paid, or been credited with, enough Class 1 NICs" in the tax year 2007-08.

What I'd like to know, assuming the statement is correct, is a) how this could have happened, b) what I can do about it, and c) if JSA is not available, then what benefits are likely to be.

I have a mortgage, wife, and two year old child, if that helps any with your responses.

Thank you!

Ocean007

Both you and your employer should have been paying Class 1 NI during your employment. Your contribution would normally be deducted from your wages along with tax so you should see these deductions on your old wage slips. I'm not sure how you check your employers contribution.

There's some info about NI here http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nic/background-nic.htm

And here is a link to a number to call if you think you haven't paid enough NI.
http://search2.hmrc.gov.uk/kbroker/hmrc/contactus/search.ladv?sr=0&as=1&cs=ISO-8859-1&sc=hmrc&sf=&sm=0&nh=50&ha=34&tx0=370289&fl0=__dsid:&tx1=2041&raction=view

They should be able to look up your tax history and tell you what's happened. It's important to get sorted because as well as it affecting your JSA now, I believe it can affect your pension in the future. It is possible to make additional payments to fill any gaps in your NI history so I think they'll be able to help you sort it out.

As you can't claim contribution based JSA, you could ask the jobcentre to consider you for income based JSA where they look at your income and savings. I think you need to have less than £16,000 in savings to qualify.

If you speak to your council they will also advise you on claiming council tax benefit.

Support for Mortgage Interest is available for those on benefit for 13 weeks or more so unfortunately that doesn't apply at the moment. Worth keeping in mind for the future though.

Hope that's of some use.

slightlymad99

Make sure they hold the right information. They are saying I have not paid enough class 1 contributions, but was working full time during the time they are querying.

I have been told to take my payslips, proving NI paid to Job Centre, they will then fax through to Head Office and re-assess your claim.

Hope everything works out.

mark5

I recently had a letter from the tax office stating i had not paid NI for the tax year 2006-2007, and offered me the chance to make up my contributions for the year.
I sent off my p60 and my record has now been updated, a search of the internet showed this to be a pretty frequent problem with the tax office and not the employers fault.

I hope your problem is sorted out quickly,
Good luck!

Marg

I presume you are aware that the year referred to is the tax year from April 2007 to April 2008 and you were employed for all or most of that year and having NI deducted from your wages?

It is possible that employer had your NI number wrong or didn't pay the NI deducted. So I suggest first step is as slightlymad99 & mark5 say.

blue_monkey_2

I had this problem too, take your pay slips and your P60 and you'll be fine. Was you working from 6th April 2007 until 5th April 2008 as this is the year that you will pay full contributions.

Read here about JSA.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Employedorlookingforwork/DG_10018757

How does it work?


Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance

You may get contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance if you have paid or been credited with class 1 National Insurance (NI) contributions in the relevant tax years. Self employed contributions will not generally qualify you for contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance.

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

This is based on your income and savings. You may get this if you have not paid enough National Insurance contributions (NICs) (or you've only paid contributions for self-employment) and you're on a low income.

Do you have savings or did you get redundancy pay?

Also claim for Council Tax Benefit and additional CTC. Does your wife work at all she she could get WTC.

marcofoo

I too am in a situation similar to yourself:

I am unemployed and have been rejected Jobseekers Allowance due to a lack of Class 1 contribtions during y/e 5th April 2007 (2008 is fine). It turns out you were required to earn at least £5,030 in that year. I earned just over £3,000.

I am living alone and have savings over £16,000 so am ruled out of income-based.


My queries are:

Why are the years assessed 2007/2008 and not 2008/2009??? A Jobseeker's Allowance advisor told me "that's just the rules. It comes into effect in January 2010." Is she right?

I was a student during the majority of the tax year in question and therefore inneligible to attend the Job Centre... and therefore only able to make NI contributions through any salary earned. Are there any exceptions for these circumstances?

I remember receiving a letter a couple of years ago offering me the chance to top up my NI contribtions for a tax year. If I do this (assuming it is y/e 2007) will I then be able to claim JSA?
(I have since been advised that this is not the case - it is only for State Pension.)

Am I entitled to anything at all?

Thanks.