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Can I claim JSA?

I am currently self employed but don't feel like I am. I sell handmade items on eBay and business is not doing well at all. In fact, throughout June I made more doing surveys than I did in sales. I've started borrowing from family to help myself out. If I stopped being self employed, can I claim JSA? I am looking for a job and if I could go straight into one without the need to go to the job centre that would be fantastic. But the way things are going I can't see that happening.

Comments

  • t0rt0ise
    t0rt0ise Posts: 4,669 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You should be able to get income based JSA. You won't get contribution based as you'll have been paying self employed NI which don't count.
  • anamenottaken
    anamenottaken Posts: 4,198 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    interlcore wrote: »
    I am currently self employed but don't feel like I am. I sell handmade items on eBay and business is not doing well at all. In fact, throughout June I made more doing surveys than I did in sales. I've started borrowing from family to help myself out. If I stopped being self employed, can I claim JSA? I am looking for a job and if I could go straight into one without the need to go to the job centre that would be fantastic. But the way things are going I can't see that happening.

    When did you last pay Class 1 NI contributions?
  • t0rt0ise
    t0rt0ise Posts: 4,669 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    That's true. The qualifying years for contribution based JSA are a couple of years ago so it depends when you stopped paying normal NI. It's worth signing on adn checking anyway.
  • hcb42
    hcb42 Posts: 5,962 Forumite
    t0rt0ise wrote: »
    You should be able to get income based JSA. You won't get contribution based as you'll have been paying self employed NI which don't count.

    Not necessarily, depends on the household income i.e. do they have a partner working FT. If so, then probably no income based JSA
  • t0rt0ise
    t0rt0ise Posts: 4,669 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I looked it up. Self employed NI contributions don't count for contribution based JSA and obviously they won't get income based if they have enough income.. I thought that bit was too obvious to state!

    http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Employedorlookingforwork/DG_10018757
  • chuckley
    chuckley Posts: 4,405 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    working tax credit?
This discussion has been closed.
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