Unemployed but not eligable for jobseekers

aliisa

Hello

I'm sorry if this post annoys anyone but I have been visited so many websites and I'm a bit confused so I would like a little bit of advice.

I've been unemployed since December, but my partner works full time.
I have been told today - after my claim being lost 3 times and after being told more than once I will definitely be entitled to jobseekers - that I am actually NOT eligable for the allowance (I worked full-time for the last three years but didnt quite make enough NI contributions).

Since I have not had any money going-in since December I am very behind with bills and bank charges etc. My partner is badly in debt so can't really help me.

Is there anything I can do? I have asked for a loan from Provident which obviously is not ideal but I don't really have any choice as I have about £10 left in my purse!! I was relying on jobseekers to help me out.

It goes without saying that I am desperately trying to get a job.

Thankyou for any replies

dmg24

The tax years the JCP will look at are 08/09 and 09/10. Did you work full time for the duration of those years?

aliisa

Yes I did

I worked full time from December 2007 - December 2010.

However they said they had to calculate my NI contributions from April 2007 - April 2010.

So although I worked full-time for 3 years, in the tax year from April 2007-April 2008 I only worked for 4 months ..

I understand what they are saying, but it is frustrating.

dmg24

aliisa wrote: »

Yes I did

I worked full time from December 2007 - December 2010.

However they said they had to calculate my NI contributions from April 2007 - April 2010.

So although I worked full-time for 3 years, in the tax year from April 2007-April 2008 I only worked for 4 months ..

I understand what they are saying, but it is frustrating.

Sorry, I've just noticed that you claimed in December, hence the years would be 07/08 and 08/09 (not 09/10).

allen35

Depending on your joint income you may be entitled to tax credits, housing benefit or council tax benefit.

I always recommend, if unsure, to apply as you don't know unless you try.

MrsManda

Put your details into the benefits calculators from turn2us and direct.gov to see what else you may be entitled to.
Also call the HMRC to ask for a National Insurance statement of account just to check that all the N.I. contributions you think you've made have been creditted to your account.

https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal/page/portal/ba/lp?_piref278_36249_278_36248_36248.__ora_navig=action%3Dentitlement%26pageno%3D16

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

You can get a statement of account by contacting the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) National Insurance Enquiries for Individuals Helpline on 0845 302 1479 (textphone 0845 915 3296). The helpline is open from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday except bank holidays.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/BeginnersGuideToTax/NationalInsurance/IntroductiontoNationalInsurance/DG_190052

It is worth claiming JSA even if you don't get any money as it means you will get National Insurance credits paid.

dseventy

aliisa wrote: »

).

Since I have not had any money going-in since December I am very behind with bills and bank charges etc. My partner is badly in debt so can't really help me.

As a couple the law says you need circa £100 a week to live on. Your partners income must exceed this for you not to get Income Based JSA.

They do not take into account debts when working out this figure.

Also as a couple you are expected to support each other.

D70

ekkygirl

Will you be able to sign on after 1 April and have the years that you did pay enough NI be relevant instead of the year when you only paid for 4 months?

aliisa

Depending on your joint income you may be entitled to tax credits, housing benefit or council tax benefit.

I always recommend, if unsure, to apply as you don't know unless you try.

Thanks I'm going to go to the council today and pick up a form

Put your details into the benefits calculators from turn2us and direct.gov to see what else you may be entitled to.
Also call the HMRC to ask for a National Insurance statement of account just to check that all the N.I. contributions you think you've made have been creditted to your account.

It is worth claiming JSA even if you don't get any money as it means you will get National Insurance credits paid.

Thankyou I will definitely give HMRC a call to check. The man at the Jobcentre said if I wanted to claim again in April I would have to wait 13 weeks between claims, so it wouldn't be worth me trying to get the NI credits as it isnt worth very much?
The again, I would hope that I will have a job by then so if I definitely haven't paid enough NI I will claim for the NI credits.
Thankyou for your help

As a couple the law says you need circa £100 a week to live on. Your partners income must exceed this for you not to get Income Based JSA.

They do not take into account debts when working out this figure.

Also as a couple you are expected to support each other.

Not sure I understand .. my partner earns more than £400 a month, but everything gets eaten up by outstanding bills etc. When I told them my partner works full-time the guys at the Jobcentre straight away said I wouldn't be able to get income-based.

Will you be able to sign on after 1 April and have the years that you did pay enough NI be relevant instead of the year when you only paid for 4 months?

Aparantly I will have to wait 13 weeks now before I can claim again, but yes if I make another claim they wont look at the 2007 tax year so I should be okay.
The manager also said that if I had backdated my claim to 3rd January rather than 27th December when my job ended (as I was told to do!) then I would have been able to claim no problem!

I don't know if they would backdate if I claimed again though. I wish they had told me all this in the beginning I have spoken to around 30 people at the Jobcentre and no one seemed to know what they were talking about, it's been very stressful. Hopefully I will get a job very soon anway.

Thankyou everyone for your help

ekkygirl

It IS 13 weeks if they count it for your first unsuccessful claim. They must agree with that hence the "If you had claimed from 3 Jan" comment they made.
Try again and appeal if necessary

CCFC_80

MrsManda wrote: »

Put your details into the benefits calculators from turn2us and direct.gov to see what else you may be entitled to.
Also call the HMRC to ask for a National Insurance statement of account just to check that all the N.I. contributions you think you've made have been creditted to your account.

https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal/page/portal/ba/lp?_piref278_36249_278_36248_36248.__ora_navig=action%3Dentitlement%26pageno%3D16

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/BeginnersGuideToTax/NationalInsurance/IntroductiontoNationalInsurance/DG_190052

It is worth claiming JSA even if you don't get any money as it means you will get National Insurance credits paid.

Only if you haven't paid full 30 years worth as that is all you need these days to qualify for state pension.