Jobseekers allowance question

neilcr_2

You only get contributions JSA for 6 months and I think the rules changed last year. I actually got 6 months JSA then worked for 3 months and was led to believe I did qualify for another 6 months worth. I then found out the rules had changed and qualified. You will hardly get rich on it anyway as it was only around £65 pw when I received it.

lilsweetie

cassieB57 wrote: »

People in Jobcentres don't actually process benefit claims, so a lot of the time will not know much about processing; as that is done in the benefit delivery centre. When you call, the person you will speak to is in a call centre, and they receive only basic training about how to look up details like what payments have been made, so they do not know how to process claims either. Even the processors do not need to know about how much NI you have to have paid because once the claim has been registered, the entitlement is calculated automatically by the system. They are often just doing data input. There are some specialists or people like myself who have worked a number of years and do have the knowledge or experience to deal with the enquiry, but by no means all of them do, and those are getting fewer as numbers are being cut.

You have it bob on there, jobcentre staff do not get benefit training what so ever so its hardly their fault that they cannot answer your question, which is the reason you ring a benefit delivery centre.

dmg24

Spendless wrote: »

I wouldn't mind knowing the answer.

Whilst the figures will vary slightly for this year (and the relevant tax years are +1, had the OP bothered to search the information was on the Benefits board the whole time!

In order to claim CB JSA you must have paid sufficient Class 1 NI Contributions in the relevant tax years (currently £2175 for 07/ 08 and £2250 for 08/ 09). Class 1 Contributions are paid by those in employment. CB JSA does not take into account other household income or savings/ capital, however it is only payable for up to 26 weeks.

Sambucus_Nigra

Spoilsport!

dmg24

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Spoilsport!

Sorry! I did refrain from giving the correct figures though ... and no doubt the OP will come along and tell me that I'm wrong anyway!