Job Seekers' Allowance - I'm Even Worse Off Than I Thought!

Mister-D_3

I must admit that my experience with the DWP has been pretty much the same as you folks. I have not claimed yet as my wife is leaving work Friday. But I have been told so much misinformation from "managers" at the local Job Centre that I do not trust a word they say!

obewan

My wife is also working but as she does less than 16 hours per week, I was entitled to income based JSA & mortgage interest benefit..it appears hours worked rather than actual income is the key here.

Trollfever

I actually have some sympathy for the front line DWP staff.
It is not their fault that the Benefits system is so complicated.


.

mike_L

I'm 55, have worked almost non-stop the past 40 years with only a few periods on the dole in that time. Last unemployed 13 years ago only for a short spell.

Became self employed (sole trader) 4 years ago, paying my NI stamps each month as you have to, been through a rough period the last year or so and signed on four months ago.

Was told when applying that I might not be entitled to anything! Anyway I got Income based JSA (took the t***s two months to sort it).

Like you say how can pay your dues for years and years and suddenly not be entitled to anything?

Maybe someone can give some logical explanation for this?

k2nga

TK good on you. Most people in this country just roll over although i am not one of them and its great that you are like me and willing to fight these stupid rules. We had a problem last year trying to get housing benefit it was ok for them to sit and say what i could not get but we had nothing and was about to lose our home i fought them all the way and suddenly you reach a point where things happen but in a country where we are taxed taxed and taxed it should not have to be like this.

rog2

Trollfever wrote: »

I actually have some sympathy for the front line DWP staff.
It is not their fault that the Benefits system is so complicated.

Whilst I accept that the Benefits system is, indeed, very complicated, I find it difficult to share your sympathy with those who administer it, in particular the 'front line' staff.
With only one exception, the staff that I tried to deal with were arrogant, dismissive and bordering on downright rude.
This may well be due to inadequate training, certainly on 'customer relations' skills, but since the, often instant, decisions that they make can drastically affect the lives of their 'clients' there can be no excuse for what is, basically, an attitude problem.
As others, who persisted, have found, there are usually solutions and it really is not too much to expect, from the 'front line' staff, that they draw your attention to, and assist you with, these solutions.
My final interview at the Job Centre was concluded with the words 'This interview is terminatedd - please leave now'. It was followed up, five days later, with a letter stating that 'as I had not turned up for my appointment, I would no longer be credited with my NI contributions'.

debt_doctor

I have extensive contact with the DWP in my job, and whilst there are exeptions, I find that especially the front line staff are ill trained, and simply dont care if people receive their benefits or not. There is a massive 'judgemental attitude' problem within the DWP.

Back to JSA.

ONLY those who were employees for the two qualifying years before they became unemployed and so have paid enough class 1 NI contributions can claim contributions based job seekers allowance.This benefit lasts 6 months and usually unaffected by a partners income.

If you have been self employed ( sole trader) then you do not pay class 1 cont. so do not qualify for the above benefit.

In either case, if your income is low enough, you may qualify for income based job seekers allowance. If for instance, you are a couple, and your partner has an income of more than about £110 pw then you would receive no JSA at all.

Housing and council tax benefit are available to all ( employed, self employed, sick, unemployed, private or public rent) if your income is low compared to family need.

Mortgage interest payments are available to those on most benefits. Dont let anyone tell you that you must receive inc based JSA, Income support or Pension guarentee credit to obtain it. It depends on your income and your allowed mortgage interest costs.

It also becomes payable after 13 weeks or immediately if you are on PGC)

DD

mike_L

debt_doctor wrote: »

I have extensive contact with the DWP in my job, and whilst there are exeptions, I find that especially the front line staff are ill trained, and simply dont care if people receive their benefits or not. There is a massive 'judgemental attitude' problem within the DWP.

Back to JSA.

ONLY those who were employees for the two qualifying years before they became unemployed and so have paid enough class 1 NI contributions can claim contributions based job seekers allowance.

This benefit lasts 6 months and usually unaffected by a partners income.

If you have been self employed ( sole trader) then you do not pay class 1 cont. so do not qualify for the above benefit.

In either case, if your income is low enough, you may qualify for income based job seekers allowance. If for instance, you are a couple, and your partner has an income of more than about £110 pw then you would receive no JSA at all.

Housing and council tax benefit are available to all ( employed, self employed, sick, unemployed, private or public rent) if your income is low compared to family need.

Mortgage interest payments are available to those on most benefits. Dont let anyone tell you that you must receive inc based JSA, Income support or Pension guarentee credit to obtain it. It depends on your income and your allowed mortgage interest costs.

It also becomes payable after 13 weeks or immediately if you are on PGC)

DD

And here's me thinking that the 37 years I paid tax before being self employed and the Class 2 stamps I paid while self employed might have entitled me to some benefit. :rolleyes:

So the £57 a week I receive is due to having no income rather than having contributed for 40 years which is irrelevant?

debt_doctor

mike_L wrote: »

And here's me thinking that the 37 years I paid tax before being self employed and the Class 2 stamps I paid while self employed might have entitled me to some benefit. :rolleyes:

So the £57 a week I receive is due to having no income rather than having contributed for 40 years which is irrelevant?

It would have entitled you to Incapacity benefit (or ESA as it is now) which is based on either class 1 or class 2 contributions. I can well understand how you feel you pay in forever and when you need it ......get nothing. I was the same was a sole trader for 5 years, and an employer, and was an employee for many years before hand.

Personally I think that benefit over and above the minimum should be 'accumulated' so that those who have been working for some years (in any capacity) should receive a higher award for, say, a year. Which is what 'earnings related benefit' was before Thatcher took it away in 1980.

DD

T76

When my husband and I both lost our jobs, for a joint claim we were only given £98 per week, so with you wife earning £6,000 it's probably correct that you get no JSA, as you wife is earning more than they would give you and your wife if you were not working - but the DWP should have advised you and your wife would be eligible for working tax credits.

If you go to http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/payments-entitlement/entitlement/question-how-much.htm they will tell you how to claim.

and if you go to http://www.entitledto.co.uk/default.aspx you should be able to calculate an estomated amount of what you will receive.