Can I re-apply for Contributions-Based JSA after being on it for 6 months (after 13 w

parsnipsmum

Hi everyone,

I was made redundant in May and started getting contribution based JSA. It ends in a couple of weeks and one of the blokes there some time ago told me that if I completely sign off then (and not keep sigining on to get my N.I. Contributions which I don't think I am going to do as a lady there said I will still get my stamp as I get child benefit?) then after 13 weeks provided I have not worked or claimed at all in that time I can re-apply?

My husband seems to think this is wrong.

I know I won't be entitled to income based JSA as my husband works full time (it says your partner has to be working less than 24 hrs a week).

Does seem too good to be true that I can get contribution based JSA again after a break of 13 weeks?

If I am not eligible for it is there anything else I can do? Is there anything else I would be entitled to?

I get Child Tax Credit and when JSA runs out in a couple of weeks I will be calling them but do you think I will possibly get an increase?

The Job Centre have said that when I tell the tax credit people they will send me a new tax award but they always base it on last years earnings (when I was working) but he said to then ask them to base it on this years as well.

My head is spinning.

Can anyone help please???

ALIBOBSY

No he is wrong and sort of right lol. Once you have had all the 182 days worth based on those 2 tax years you can never claim against those 2 years again, BUT if your new claim takes you into a new benefit year they shuffle the tax years along one and reassess you. You MAY find this means you can claim the cont based again.

If your current claim was made in 2011 (in may as per your post) it will have been based on the tax years 09/10 and 08/09 (I assume from what you say you worked all the way through these years until may 2011?).
If you made a new claim in the next benefit year (usually from early jan so say 10th jan) the tax years used shuffle on to 10/11 and 09/10 so a new set of years and from what you say these years will probably qualify as well.
You need to wait long enough for the two claims not to link together-this was 13 wks, but think it MAY be longer now not sure.

So in theory if the dates fall right the above is possible.

But the tax credits will adjust anyway for the lower income so you may decide not to bother lol.

Ali x

parsnipsmum

Hi, thank you so much for your reply.

Yes the current JSA claim was made at the end of May this ear so the 6 months runs out on 28 November.

It is still 13 weeks in between claims, thats what a chap at the Job Centre told me a couple of weeks ago anyway.

So I will sign off on the 24th (my last signing on date) but claim finishes on the 28th so will get a few last days of payment.

So I am assuming its 13 weeks from that date which takes me up to around 26th Feb so assuming I haven't got a job by then (I really hope I have!) hopefully I can claim again as it will be a new benefits year.

Also as you say maybe the tax credits will change.The chap as the job centre said that although they will send me a new tax award notice as they base it on earnings from last year I can ask them to base it on earnings from this year as well?

I don't know how they work it out as my payments haven't really changed bar a couple of pounds from when I was working 3 days a week to not working at all!

Anyway thanks for your help and I'll be calling the tax credits in a couple of weeks!

muddyl

Not read all the posts as I dont have time, but a litle info that may help.
When I claimed contrabution, after the 6 months, you have to be working again and therefore contributeing for 1 year to be eligible to claim again.