Job Seeker's Allowance

catie1salsa

Hi...i've just had my first experience of the Job Centre and benefits system after nearly 30 years of working full time. I've just completed a degree course and have been offered a job but the start date has been delayed. I'm looking for temp work in the meantime and someone suggested that I might be entitled to JSA whilst I was looking and waiting to start work. So began the encounters with the Job Centre and form filling etc. I've now been notified that because I didn't pay any NI contributions for the year 2008/2009 (I was in Uni, not working)....I am not entitled to claim JSA......What about the 28 years of NI contributions I have paid previously? Does this not count for anything. This experience only serves to underline what I already believed....those people who are willing to contribute and do the right thing count for nothing in the eyes of the government!

Juicyloo

This experience only serves to underline what I already believed....those people who are willing to contribute and do the right thing count for nothing in the eyes of the government!

That is actually a very bigoted and ignorant statement.

Everyone's situation is different and everyone's situation changes.

Welcome to the world of jobcentreplus.

morganedge

You should still be able to claim.

Make a claim for income based JSA rather than contibutions based JSA.

It angers me that you weren't told this. A friend of mine got a letter saying he wasn't entitled due to not paying enough contributions, but he eventually found out he was still entitled to income based JSA. It amazed me that the letter he got didn't say something like
:'..bla bla bla....however, you may be entitled to income based JSA, please find enclosed the application form'

Sneaky sneaky government.

terryw

The application form mention this.

fresian_cow

When I first applied for JSA this happened to me. I lived with my partner who was working full time so not entitled to JSA IB but they said I was not entitled to JSA Conts due to not enough contributions. I rang them and they said it was due to a lack of contributions over the time I was at uni. I explained I was at uni and they said that hadn't been recorded on the form and that I was entitled. I did have some contributions though and I was only lacking in about 3/4 months - might be worth ringing them though. Worst that can happen is that they say no.