Benefit entitlement?

tigger23

I got made unexpectedly redundant on Friday, and immediately phoned the Job Centre to make an appointment regarding clamiing JSA.

I only worked part time through most of 2008 due to illness, but have worked full time since November 2008 and had a good job that I gave up for an equally good job that was closer to home (wish I'd never bothered now!) Apparently I did not pay enough contributions in 08-09 to get contributions based JSA.

I live with my partner, who works full time but only earns £12,500. This means I cannot get income based JSA either. She is 23, so cannot claim working tax credits.

Is there anything we can claim for? It doesn't seem fair that we cannot claim for anything whatsoever. Our bills are £1050 each month and my partner only brings home about £850 so even before food and petrol are taken into account, we're well and truely screwed.

I've just tried cancelling some of our monthly payments to try and make our bills less, but we're tied into 12 month contracts that we have to pay to get out of, and obviously can't afford that. Green Flag want to charge us £107!!

I'm desperate to find work, am applying for everything and anything despite it not being what I want to do (because it annoys me when people think they're too good for a McJob or shelf stacking - a job is a job !!) and I can't believe there's no help for me whatsoever that I know of

AnxiousMum

Sorry to hear of this - re the redundancy being 'unexpected'......aren't there procedures that an employer has to follow in order to make people redundant? We had redundancies last year and there was a 'warning of your post being at risk' given out, with I think a month's consultation process and job re-applicatiosn etc. It's only a small company and only a few were made redundant. Did your employer follow any kind of formal procedure?

KeaneFan10

AnxiousMum wrote: »

Sorry to hear of this - re the redundancy being 'unexpected'......aren't there procedures that an employer has to follow in order to make people redundant? We had redundancies last year and there was a 'warning of your post being at risk' given out, with I think a month's consultation process and job re-applicatiosn etc. It's only a small company and only a few were made redundant. Did your employer follow any kind of formal procedure?

Your right ...My partner was going through this a few months ago they were told in advance that there were to be a few job loses they had various meetings you really need to check this was all done in the correct manner

daska

Have you looked at entitledto?

fresian_cow

Who has told you that you weren't entitled to JSA Conts?

tigger23

daska wrote: »

Have you looked at entitledto?

Yes, according to that we are entitled to £22 a week working tax credits, but on the HMRC calculator it says not as my partner is only 23.

Re: not entitled to contributions based JSA, the job centre, as I didn't work enough to pay any tax or NI in the 08-09 tax year.

Re: redundancy - nothing like that was followed, it was just under the terms of my probation...contract could be terminated at any time by either party giving a weeks notice.

Indie_Kid

Do you have children?

karenx

Unfortunatly there is nothing else you can claim. The government says a couple needs £100 per week to live on and with just your partners income that takes you above that.
Do you rent?

babymoo

I really feel for you, it is exceptionally wrong that someone should be penalised for working. When I was looking to move in with my other half we were told that because he brings home £1000 a month we are entitled to nothing as I physcially can not work. We are both under 25 so not even entitled to Tax Credits.

We were actually told by a decision maker at the job centre that we would be financially better off if my other half left work and we lived on benefits as we would get everything. Good luck.

tigger23

sh1305 - no, we don't have children.

karenx - we don't rent, we have a mortgage.

I'd like to know where the government got their £100 a week figure for a couple from. Even without the cost of a car, TV, phones, food and petrol, our basic housing costs are £400 (mortgage, less than anything we could rent in this area) £102 council tax, £15 water bill and £88 gas + electricity.

lilac_lady

I hope that you get another job soon. It's so unfair that people who have worked and want to work get so little financial help when others who have no intention of working seem to be able to claim various benefits.