Contribution Based JSA - Been refused Please help

Hoptoit_2

Hi All,

I have just had a letter stating that I did not make enough contribution during tax years ending 08 and 09. I was working full time until March 08 when I went on maternity leave, I also had extended maternity leave and was officially unemployed from March 09.

Can maternity leave be figured into the calculations regardless of working full time up until that point? It just seems a little unfair to me.

Thanks in advance
x

AnxiousMum

Do you qualify for means tested JSA?

cifpower

On maternity leave were you getting full/half pay and/or maternity pay?

Hoptoit_2

No I dont qualify for means tested as my partner works full time.

I was only getting statutory maternity pay, so the first 6 weeks at 90% then the standard allowance for the further 20 weeks, which is around £100, then the other 26 weeks are completely unpaid.

Thanks for replying x

karenx

If they were unpaid then were you paying NI?

healy

Hoptoit wrote: »

No I dont qualify for means tested as my partner works full time.

I was only getting statutory maternity pay, so the first 6 weeks at 90% then the standard allowance for the further 20 weeks, which is around £100, then the other 26 weeks are completely unpaid.

Thanks for replying x

It sounds correct to me as if you were unpaid you would not be paying NI and would therefore have gaps in your NI record and would not be entitled to contribution based benefits.

Hoptoit_2

Hi All,

Thanks for your replies. I spoke to a lovely lady at my local office and she explained it to me, im not entitled as I was on Maternity leave, regardless of the fact I and my partner have worked full time since leaving school and paid full stamp I am not entitled to any help!

Oh well theres 2 hours of my life wasted in the dole office that I will never get back

Thanks again
x