Contribution based JSA

mickyrod

Can anyone tell me if Contribution based JSA is in any way based on income? My daughter is working 14 hours a week. She has just been made redundant from her full time job, and the company have asked her to stay on for a few weeks.

She has just returned from her interview at the job centre, and has been told she is not entitled to JSA. Her friend who is in exactly the same position, had her interview today at a different job centre and she will get JSA under ther contribution system. They have both worked full time at the same company for the last 8 years.

I am not sure, but I think my daughter may have been assesed against the income based JSA.




Thanks

HappyMJ

Is the friend also working 14 hours per week?

Contributions based JSA is still reduced based on income received and sometimes it is better not to claim it and save it for later if needed.

mickyrod

Yes - her friend is also working 14 hours. Same pay!

HappyMJ

mickyrod wrote: »

Yes - her friend is also working 14 hours. Same pay!

She would only get a few pounds if anything. I wouldn't bother claiming it. It'll only just cover the bus fare to get to and from the job centre.

mickyrod

So what is the difference between income based JSA and Contribution based? I cannot see the difference!

Her freind has been told she will get the full allowance.

HappyMJ

mickyrod wrote: »

So what is the difference between income based JSA and Contribution based? I cannot see the difference!

Her freind has been told she will get the full allowance.

No chance unless she failed to declare the income from the job she has. Or declared it in a way that minimized her income. I have been known to work whilst being unemployed and claimed expenses against the income earnt (when declaring the work is self-employment) the profit was nil so I was able to claim full JSA.

There are a few differences between IB and CB. If you have over £16,000 of cash assets you cannot claim IB at all but you can claim CB. If you have a partner that works full time then you can claim CB for 6 months if eligible but not IB.

mickyrod

Perhaps that is the answer - her friend is married, but he has just been made redundant as well!

HappyMJ

mickyrod wrote: »

Perhaps that is the answer - her friend is married, but he has just been made redundant as well!

They should each be able to claim 6 months of CB JSA if not working at all. Her portion of the CB JSA will be reduced due to the part time income. If she earns minimum wage then she gets nothing and the husband might if he doesn't work get £67.50.

After 6 months they as a couple can go onto IB JSA and that will then be reduced by the income again but only to a very small payment. £105.95 minus (earnings less disregard).

mickyrod

Thanks for the input.

It was just the fact that two jobs centres can handle thing so differently! My daughters friend did say she is working 14 hours a week, but the JS did not even ask how much she is earning. They also said she would not have to go back for another six weeks. My daughter was asked how many hours she is working and how much she is getting, and was told she must go back every week to sign on and provide evidence that she is looking for work.

She has been in full time employment since she left her studies and she said she was treated with complete contempt!

Never Mind - I just hope she finds another job soon.

bobajob_1966

mickyrod wrote: »

Thanks for the input.

It was just the fact that two jobs centres can handle thing so differently! My daughters friend did say she is working 14 hours a week, but the JS did not even ask how much she is earning. They also said she would not have to go back for another six weeks. My daughter was asked how many hours she is working and how much she is getting, and was told she must go back every week to sign on and provide evidence that she is looking for work.

She has been in full time employment since she left her studies and she said she was treated with complete contempt!

Never Mind - I just hope she finds another job soon.

I always take second hand stories with a pinch of salt - what happened with the friend in reality could be very different to the information that has got back to you.