Do I qualify for Contributory Jobseekers Allowance ?

Trouncer

Hi,
I wonder if someone can help me ? My situation is this......

I left the UK and gave up my job to try and start a new life abroad last year Oct 2009. Unfortunately things didn't turn out. I couldn't find work so returned back to the UK in Aug 2010.

Currently I am looking for work but in the meantime I was wondering if I was eligible for 'Contributory Jobseekers Allowance' (as I still have savings above the 16k mark). The problem is, the website states Contributory Jobseekers Allowance is based on the last 2 years of NI contributions.

Please note, I have contributed over the maximum 35yrs in NI having worked and contributed all my working life. It's just the last year between Oct 2009 to Aug 2010 when I was out the country that I didn't.

My question is, would I be entitled to anything ? or part entitled ? or nothing at all and be forced to use my saving for travel, & costs when looking for jobs etc.

Many thanks for any helpful and constructive advice.

Tigsteroonie

Trouncer wrote: »

The problem is, the website states Contributory Jobseekers Allowance is based on the last 2 years of NI contributions.

Please note, I have contributed over the maximum 35yrs in NI having worked and contributed all my working life. It's just the last year between Oct 2009 to Aug 2010 when I was out the country that I didn't.

Alas, no. Your 35 years count for nothing. They only look at the last two complete years (can't remember if that's Apr-Mar or Jan-Dec) but either way you've got a gap in the NI contribs in Oct/Nov/Dec 2009.

Sucks, doesn't it :rotfl: Yes, you will have to use your rather substantial savings (compared to some) to live on. My stepdad is in a similar situation, and it annoys him too.

DX2

You are going to have to dip into the savings pot. You will not get means tested benefit with £16k and above in the tea caddy

stazi

The minimum amounts of earnings on which NI have been paid/treated as paid to qualify for JSA(C) in 2010 are for tax years-
07/08-£4350
08/09-£4500

So, if your earnings were at least these amounts, then you would normally qualify. In addition, you need to sign a Jobseekers agreement and meet other conditions.

Your 35 years NIC paid do count for something, no matter what Tigsteroonie says, - you will have paid enough NIC for your State Pension. Benefits such as JSA(C) or ESA(C) have contribution conditions related to recent earnings (in the last 2 compete tax years)- not what you may have paid 35 years ago.

National Insurance (NI) is like any other insurance scheme - you only 'get out' if you 'put in' at the right time.

Trouncer

Thanks all for your answers and comments.

It's just that I have worked all my life and never been out of work until Oct last year. Does the last 2 NI years they talk about start in April ? I have not completely been out of work the whole of the last 2 years, just the last 10 months. Would that make a difference ?

seven-day-weekend

Regardless of how many years you have paid in total, to get Contributions-based JSA you have to have paid enough in the two relevant tax years. I think the ones they are using for current clims are 2008-9 and 2009-10. (However I may be wrong on this -someone please correct if so).

stazi

SDW

The tax years used for JSA/ESA claims in 2010 are 07/08 & 08/09.

Trouncer

Thanks SDW ans Stazi.

So If I worked the whole tax year of April '07 to March '08.....

and also......

April '08 to Oct 9th '09......(about 6 months)

Does that mean I may get 'some' Contributory JSA due to paying in 1 year and 6 months of NI of the last 2 years ?

seven-day-weekend

I think you have to have paid for the full two tax years.

Thanks stazi for the correction.

stazi

To qualify for either JSA/ESA you need to earn the minimum amount of earnings in each tax year. See post#4 for details.

As NIC is a % of earnings, this means that, for example-
someone earning £12K pa can satisfy the cont conditions in just over 4 or 5 months;
someone earning £24K pa can satisfy the cont conditions in just over 2 or 3 months.