Voluntary redundancy - Benefit entitlement?

jtk174

passau91 wrote: »

Even if you don't qualify because you don't have the right contributions, at least you will be 'paying your stamp' for NI contributions towards pension rights.

I will check that out. Although that raises another interesting point.
When I checked how many years complete contributions I had towards State Pension, I was told that the number of years required was 30 not 44!

Fortunately I have accrued 35 years but unfortunately I will have to wait another 12 years to claim it. But at least I have a small works pension to keep me going.

Thanks for the reply.

Mr_Linnet

I too took voluntary redundancy in late February this year ( as there were rumours that our hours could be cut due to the down turn in trade ) I decided to volunteer for redundancy rather than be forced to work on reduced hours. My application was accepted.

I applied to sign on at the local job centre, they gave me a telephone number to ring. I rang the number the following day and spent ages giving personal details. I was asked when I wanted the claim to start from to which I replied yesterday, the response was that they would have to ask more questions as I wanted to back date my claim!

I ended up with a date at the local job centre for an interview about the details I had given over the telephone. I had my interview and one question was, Which allowance did I want to claim? I don`t know I`ve never done this before was my reply. We can`t advise you, we only offer options! this was their reply!!!!!

I too ended up at the CAB. Why do we have to rely on volunteers and voluntary contribution organisations to help us in such circumstances??

The result was I claimed Contribution Based JSA, unfortunately this only lasts for 6 months, what happens after that I don`t know. I`m not eligible for free prescriptions or dental treatment etc.

I have recently enquired about the Warm Front scheme but again I`m on the wrong allowance to take advantage.

Hope this info helps someone;)

Aitchjayem

jtk174 wrote: »

Do you know is this solely based on the redundancy payout? I had been told if you had more than £16000 in savings you would not receive any benefits and as a result didn't bother signing on for JSA.

I can confim: if you've got more than £16,000 in savings they don't give you anything. I've just had a letter saying my contribution based benefit payments ceased last November even though I've never had a penny...

p00hsticks

Aitchjayem wrote: »

I can confim: if you've got more than £16,000 in savings they don't give you anything. I've just had a letter saying my contribution based benefit payments ceased last November even though I've never had a penny...

You're not getting a company pension of any sort are you ? Because that (or the fact that you didn' have the right amount of qualifying NI contributions) are the only reasons I'm aware of why you might not be eligible to get contribution-based JSA. Savings doesn't come into it.

p00hsticks

jtk174 wrote: »

Although that raises another interesting point.
When I checked how many years complete contributions I had towards State Pension, I was told that the number of years required was 30 not 44!

The number of years contributions required for a full pension was changed (down to 30 years) for those who reach retirement age after April 5th 2010 by the Pensions Act 2007. Those retiring before then still need 44 (men) or 39 (women) years worth of contributions.

More details here

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/approachingretirement/introduction.asp

PaulLuke

Aitchjayem wrote: »

I can confim: if you've got more than £16,000 in savings they don't give you anything. I've just had a letter saying my contribution based benefit payments ceased last November even though I've never had a penny...

Our experience was that for contribution based JSA savings are ignored, as is other household income (e.g. partner's income) so this sounds wrong, unless, as P00hsticks asks, you have other personal income.