Contribution JSA - Advice please!

spacedoutman

Hi, I was receiving Contribution based JSA for 5 months and then they stopped paying me. I had no contact from the benefit people so went to the Jobcentre who were none the wiser and just gave me the benefit number to ring. I eventually got through and was told that I wasn't entitled to any JSA even though they had sent me a letter to say I was entitled 5 months previous. Also, they said it looks as though I have been overpaid as I hadn't enough NI credits for the last 2 tax years (2008/9 & 2009/10). I worked full time for 9 years including 2008/9 and part time for 7 months and out of work for the rest of 2009/10. They told me to apply for Pension Credit as I am 62, which I duly did. Anyway, today I get a letter from the benefit centre saying that I am not entitled to JSA from the day I first applied for it.

So what do I do now?. Is it worth appealing or is it just a waste of time. I am sure I am going to get a letter from the DWP saying that I have been overpaid and demanding the money back which I havn't got as it's a month since I received anything and the savings are nearly gone and I'm told the Pension Credit takes a while to process. Still looking for work but ageism still exists believe me.

Any advice you guys?.

rogerblack

spacedoutman wrote: »

Also, they said it looks as though I have been overpaid as I hadn't enough NI credits for the last 2 tax years (2008/9 & 2009/10). I worked full time for 9 years including 2008/9

I'd ask HMRC for details of your NI credits for those years.
If they're good, then the decision is clearly wrong.
If they're not - you need to investigate why, and see if that's an error that can be fixed now.

You were employed, not self-employed?

NASA_2

Do you have your P60's?

BrettMorganxD

spacedoutman wrote: »

Hi, I was receiving Contribution based JSA for 5 months and then they stopped paying me. I had no contact from the benefit people so went to the Jobcentre who were none the wiser and just gave me the benefit number to ring. I eventually got through and was told that I wasn't entitled to any JSA even though they had sent me a letter to say I was entitled 5 months previous. Also, they said it looks as though I have been overpaid as I hadn't enough NI credits for the last 2 tax years (2008/9 & 2009/10). I worked full time for 9 years including 2008/9 and part time for 7 months and out of work for the rest of 2009/10. They told me to apply for Pension Credit as I am 62, which I duly did. Anyway, today I get a letter from the benefit centre saying that I am not entitled to JSA from the day I first applied for it.

So what do I do now?. Is it worth appealing or is it just a waste of time. I am sure I am going to get a letter from the DWP saying that I have been overpaid and demanding the money back which I havn't got as it's a month since I received anything and the savings are nearly gone and I'm told the Pension Credit takes a while to process. Still looking for work but ageism still exists believe me.

Any advice you guys?.

If you have worked for the last two tax years, does that not mean you are entitled to Contribution JSA?. I would check this straight away. The DWP get it wrong so many times, trust me.

Appeal the decision, why should you have to pay money back you were rightfully entitled to?

NASA_2

BrettMorganxD wrote: »

If you have worked for the last two tax years, does that not mean you are entitled to Contribution JSA?. I would check this straight away. The DWP get it wrong so many times, trust me.

Appeal the decision, why should you have to pay money back you were rightfully entitled to?

The DWP do not deal with National Insurance Contributions so they cannot be blamed if the records are wrong for that.

spacedoutman

So do I get in touch with HRMC? I was NOT self employed. Or can I find out any other way?

spacedoutman

Sorry, HMRC.
P60's - I may have the later one.

NASA_2

spacedoutman wrote: »

So do I get in touch with HRMC? I was NOT self employed. Or can I find out any other way?

You would need to get in touch with HMRC.

This is a guess, though and educated one, so it might be worth something.

HMRC recently issued 'corrections' on numerous accounts where the National Insurance Records were wrong. The vast majority of cases where benefit was claimed remained unaffected even though HMRC had got things wrong but there are of course cases where it does affect entitlement and I am guessing that yours is one of these cases.

The timing fits perfectly - the DWP will have been undertaking an excercise based on revised records during September and ongoing through October. I see no other reason why they would have just checked your contributions on a whim.

spacedoutman

NASA wrote: »

You would need to get in touch with HMRC.

This is a guess, though and educated one, so it might be worth something.

HMRC recently issued 'corrections' on numerous accounts where the National Insurance Records were wrong. The vast majority of cases where benefit was claimed remained unaffected even though HMRC had got things wrong but there are of course cases where it does affect entitlement and I am guessing that yours is one of these cases.

The timing fits perfectly - the DWP will have been undertaking an excercise based on revised records during September and ongoing through October. I see no other reason why they would have just checked your contributions on a whim.

I think it only came to light when I rang the benefit centre as the letter is dated last friday when I first got in touch with them.

NASA_2

You said they stopped paying you though? I take it that is why you contacted them?

spacedoutman

It's a bit crazy really, if I had known that I wasn't entitled to any JSA then I would obviously have applied for pension credit back in March. It doesn't say much for the system when it takes 5 months to decide 'you're not entitled to what we said you were'. Not even a thank you for alerting them to the fact. (yes, they stopped paying me, that's why I rang them).
Anyway, thanks guys I will give them a ring tomorrow.