JSA Contributions Advice

rickytanner26

Hi People,

I have just received a lovely letter in the post saying that I cannot claim JSA Contributions as I have not paid enough in the last two years. Despite working for 14 months from Jul 07 to Aug 08. They say they have looked at the tax years of end Apr 07 and Apr 08. I've just checked my P60 and I paid £698.90 NIC for the tax year 07/08. Anyone good with the tax system and know how much the minimum NIC that needs to be to claime JSA Contributions please? I thought I might get something considering I've only been signed on for 3 weeks and now back in work! Damn the Government, I should have become a banker!!!

NASA_2

£4524 & £4268 are the LEL's for 07/08 and 06/07 I believe though I could be wrong slightly on 06/07.

What were your earnings 'at or above' the LEL?

It should phrase it something like that on the P60. If the £698.90 figure is that figure then you werent all that close to being entitled.

busy_mom_2

You may be eligble to claim income based but depends on your circumstances?

rickytanner26

Just had a look on the P60 and the earnings at LEL is 3393. Then the next section is earnings above the LEL which is 522. I'm also interested to know when they look at the 08/09 tax year considering we are in 09/10 now and I put in the claim on 10/06/09, seems a bit strange? Thanks for your help!!! :T

rickytanner26

Thanks for the reply busy mom, I'm living with my girlfriend who works, sorry 'partner'. So thats a defo no go. :-(

NASA_2

rickytanner26 wrote: »

Just had a look on the P60 and the earnings at LEL is 3393. Then the next section is earnings above the LEL which is 522. I'm also interested to know when they look at the 08/09 tax year considering we are in 09/10 now and I put in the claim on 10/06/09, seems a bit strange? Thanks for your help!!! :T

They will look at 08/09 for claims made on or after the first Sunday in January so long as that claim does not link to a claim made before the first Sunday in January.

rickytanner26

So that may be a point to argue as the last time I claimed was in June of 2006, again for only a couple of weeks. So that claim shouldnt be linked, I hope! Does the LEL look good to you?

NASA_2

rickytanner26 wrote: »

So that may be a point to argue as the last time I claimed was in June of 2006, again for only a couple of weeks. So that claim shouldnt be linked, I hope! Does the LEL look good to you?

As far as I see it you dont have any point to argue. Your 2009 claim will not have linked to the 2006 claim - the linking period is 26 weeks - and the LEL doesnt look like it is enough.

You still have the right to appeal the decision but you would need to be able to show that the information used to make the decision was wrong - and it doesnt seem that it was.

rickytanner26

Sorry, 'point to argue' seems like a bad way to put it! I'm a novice with all this so please bear with me. How does the LEL work, do I have to pay over 3393 in NI to be entitled or 522 or both added together? Also could I not ask them to assess my NIC within the 08/09 tax year instead of 06/07? Thanks for your advice, I do appreciate it!

NASA_2

rickytanner26 wrote: »

Sorry, 'point to argue' seems like a bad way to put it! I'm a novice with all this so please bear with me. How does the LEL work, do I have to pay over 3393 in NI to be entitled or 522 or both added together? Also could I not ask them to assess my NIC within the 08/09 tax year instead of 06/07? Thanks for your advice, I do appreciate it!

I cant explain the way LEL affects JSA in a short time so I will defer to someont that either has the time to or has a quick link to a good guide.

On your second question - you cant choose what tax years are used for your claim. They are dictated by the benefit year in which you claim.

healy

rickytanner26 wrote: »

Sorry, 'point to argue' seems like a bad way to put it! I'm a novice with all this so please bear with me. How does the LEL work, do I have to pay over 3393 in NI to be entitled or 522 or both added together? Also could I not ask them to assess my NIC within the 08/09 tax year instead of 06/07? Thanks for your advice, I do appreciate it!

They cannot use the 2008/9 tax year even if they wanted to because the National Insurance records for the tax year that ended in April are not fully updated yet.