Savings and benefits

greenview1

Hi! Could you please advise. I cannot claim Jobseekers or Incapacity benefit because I failed to make any national insurance contributions for the past two years.In 2003 my company closed down and I came out of work.I have worked all my life and have fully paid contributions from 1963 until 2003.I am aged 59 and my wife the same and she is disabled.In 2003 when I lost my job we sold our house and I have not worked since or claimed any benefits up till now where I have been refused.We have lived off interest and capital from the proceeds of the sale of the house. We have recently moved to the coast for health reasons with the intention of purchasing a house with the remaining capital that is gradually dwindling and we are currently renting a property because we need the capital to live as we cannot get benefits. I am unable to work now as I have become chronically sick but still cannot claim anything because of this two year rule. I cannot claim income support because of the capital. Eventually we are going to run out of money, can anyone please advise? many thanks.

tanith

Welcome Greenview to the site.. I am certain that someone will come along with all the information you need.. a couple of questions though, why didn't you claim JSA when you first lost your job ? and are you claiming anything for you and your wife's disabilities? As I say someone with more knowledge than me will be able to tell you if there are benefits that you can claim even though you have not paid NI for the last few years...

greenview1

Thanks Tanith for your reply. The point I am trying to make is "What is the purpose of this two year rule?"

tanith

You obviously cannot get Contribution based JSA but if you have savings of less than £16,000 you may be entitled to some Income Based JSA if your income is very low . But I would still look at Disability Benefits if you are as you say both either Disabled or Chronically sick you must be eligible for certain benefits....
I don't know why they have the 2yr rule maybe you should go along to a CAB office and ask their advice on which other benefits you could apply for....

EdInvestor

If you are being denied benefits due to not being up to date with NI conts, why don't you just pay your Voluntary class 3 contributions and bring them up to date? You can pay for up to 6 missed years.You should do this anyway as otherwise it will impact your state pension (and your wife's).

BTW you should be eligible for pension credit when you turn 60.

I agree a visit to the CAB would be wise.

greenview1

I have already qualified for full state pension as my contributions for the first 41 years have sufficed. I have been informed that fetching my contributions up to date would have an effect on my state pension but NOT on any benefits. Thanks for your reply.

CIS

If you are being denied benefits due to not being up to date with NI conts, why don't you just pay your Voluntary class 3 contributions and bring them up to date?

Class 3 conts dont count towards jsa or IB

Class 3 NICs count only towards satisfying the contribution conditions for the following benefits:

* basic State Pension
* bereavement payment (formerly widow’s payment up to April 2001)
* widowed parent’s allowance (formerly widowed mother’s allowance up to April 2001)
* bereavement allowance (formerly widow’s pension up to April 2001)
* child’s special allowance.

cattie

Probably the best thing for you to do would be to see a welfare rights advisor. If it's possible to see one linked to a charity specialising in the disability or illness that either you & your wife have it may help.

You don't mention what disability your wife has or what your chronic illness is, but might either of you be able to claim disability allowance? It isn't means tested & I believe you need to be under 60 to claim it, but if eligible it's payable beyond this age, so look into this. You do need the help of a welfare rights advisor to fill out the forms though to have more chance of success with a claim.