Less than 2 years in the country: No benefits?

DUS

Hello,

I moved to the UK and started a job on 1 April 2008. The employment contract will be terminated with effect of 28 Feb.

Could you please re-confirm that given that I´ve paid less than 2 years NI and have capital in excess of 15,000 in cash, ISAs and shares that I am not entitled to any benefits or tax credits at all (no JSA, no council tax rebate etc)?

Thank you for letting me know. Thank you!

DUS

Oldernotwiser

You are correct, you will be ineligible for means tested benefits because of the amount of capital you have ,regardless of where you come from.

DUS

Thanks! Even though this is sad news indeed.

DUS

jdturk

you have over 15k in assets and you want benefits? Please tell me thats not the case!!!

DUS

jdturk wrote: »

you have over 15k in assets and you want benefits? Please tell me thats not the case!!!

LOL.... What I wanted was to learn what I am entitled to or not. The answer was given above and so be it.

Having said that, I know what you are saying but I have mixed feelings about it. In the end, what you are saying here is that if someone works very hard and puts great effort into saving a little bit of money every month all his life and puts this money into, lets say, an ISA as the only source of money to draw down income from once he retires, he isn´t entitled to any benefits. However, if another guy who thinks "Sod it, why should I save anything, the goverment will help me out with benefits anyway" splashes this money out for drugs, alcohol, gadgets and holidays abroad he should be supported with the tax-payers' money. Fair? I am not sure.

But let us not open a discussion about the UK benefits system here. I just asked for a confirmation on the existing rules and that´s it.

Thank you!
DUS

jdturk

you make valid points and I kinda agree its not fair however my feeling is that benefits are for people in dire situations, not people who have large amounts of money they COULD live on.

Besides those that save money tend to frugal, wise and I would guess likely to earn more over their lifetime than someone who is taking the mick out of the benefits system.

Its not fair but this country struggles with its benefits system that as I said only people in DIRE situations should recieve them

DUS

Yep, I hear you.... and I am 50/50 with you on this topic.

However, coming from a country where even people with millions of pounds (or Euros for this matter) in their accounts are, in case of a redundancy, entitled to 60% of their previous net salary, I still think my very basic question about entitlements in the UK was a valid one.

Have a good w/end all..........

jdturk

DUS wrote: »

Yep, I hear you.... and I am 50/50 with you on this topic.

However, coming from a country where even people with millions of pounds (or Euros for this matter) in their accounts are, in case of a redundancy, entitled to 60% of their previous net salary, I still thought my very basic question about entitlements in the UK was a valid one.

Have a good w/end all..........

Wow I wanna live with you there lol! Switzerland? It is a valid question and my first response was not good so I apologise for that.

have a good weekend

DUS

jdturk wrote: »

Wow I wanna live with you there lol! Switzerland?

No idea how Switzerland handles this, but I wasn´t refering to them. After all, they don´t yet have the Euro. ;-)

No, I was refering to Germany, with France I believe paying even more and for even longer. Germany capped the duration to (I believe) 12 months now, with France paying more and up to 2 years after being made redundant. Austria, in this respect, is like Germany and the list could go on and on and on....

I admit, the deductions from your gross salary are higher in these countries and there is a certain amount going into a kind of goverment insurance scheme (for the unemployed) but yes, you are right, compared to the UK, most countries on the Continent offer benefits we over here can only dream of.

jdturk

DUS wrote: »

No idea how Switzerland handles this, but I wasn´t refering to them. After all, they don´t yet have the Euro. ;-)

.

Yeah school boy error of mine!

B.E.N

I'd just like to make you aware that the savings limit for Income-Based JSA is £16,000.

£1pw will be deducted for every £250 above £6,000, so it may only be a few pennies, but...IB-JSA is a "passport benefit" (automatically get HB, free prescriptions, et cetera), so may be worthwhile.

Also, if you've been paying Tax in another EEC state, you may be eligible for Contribution-Based JSA (not sure how this works, but I know it is possible).