Redundancy & JSA (conribution based)

claire0208

Hi - I am new to MSE and just wanted some advice. I was made redundant at the end of November 2008 after 10 years with the same company. Since then I have stayed at home to look after my 2 year old son and lived off my redundancy. Now the money has run out I am looking for a job and went to sign on the other day. I was told that as I've been out of work for 13 months I am no longer entitled to contributions based JSA even though I paid full contributions in 07/08 and 9 months contributons in 08/09. He said that they class tax years as January to December and therefore my contributions count for nothing - is this right? I don't qualify for income based jsa as my husband has a small pension and works part time. I am quite angry about this and feel like I've been penalised for using my redundancy to live on for the last year rather than claim off the state!!
Claire.

ariarnia

you should be able to sign on for Ni conts either way, but if you and your parters monthly income is more than couples jsa plus £5 per week allowance for wages (£100.95 a week so £403.80 a month), that's all you're entitled to. If your parters income is less than £403.80 a month, then you're (I think) entitled to the top up.

roger196

The second contribution condition refers to tax years not calendar years. Suggest that whover told you otherwise looks at para 21075 of the Decision Makers Guide on www.dwp.gov.uk
The tax year is defined in para 21055 as the year to 5th April.
The second contributions required are 50 in each of the tax years 06/07 and 07/08 for a claim in 08/09.
You could try a late claim but I think you are most unlikely to succede. Look at the DMG for guideance.