My JSA saga...

nuzuki

Hello Ladies and Gents,

I have worked since 17 in an advanced modern apprenticeship scheme then a further 5 years in the same company after the scheme finished so 8 years in total. I chose to "throw in the towel" with my job as the personal development had stopped and the job was becoming mundane (at the time I was 25). Now this is the complicated part, this was 6 years ago and I have been scrimping by on savings and living with the parents ever since. I recently tried to apply for jobseekers allowance on the basis that it is a service I have once paid for through taxes and NI contributions. So I finally bit the bullet and admitted I needed help getting back on my feet. So I applied for jobseekers allowance and after the initial interview I recieved a letter saying I was not entitled to it i.e. my claim had been denied. The reason being I had not contributed in the last 2 years. So this left me wondering what my options are? Its left me with a bit of a sick feeling of what on earth are they there for if they cannot help people in my situation. I did everything they asked of me in regards to hunting for a job and the day before my second interview I recieved the letter rejecting my claim. If anyone can offer me some advice this would be great. Please don't assume I have been doing nothing for the last 6 years. I have come on leaps and bounds in my personal goals of travelling and learning/courses in computer repair, web design and mechanics all with the end goal of starting either my own online motor parts selling business or with the view to become a mechanic. I would still like to pursue this goal but wanted help from jobseekers to get me back on my feet and gain experience in another field other than telecomms. So what is my next step?

The lady at the jobcentre said she reckoned I should submit a income based claim and not a contribution based claim and thats why it was refused. I told her this was not explained to me in the beginning. So should I submit another claim? or appeal against my old claim? I do get the feeling they are giving me the run around which is priving costly in petrol. Please understand I really did not want to go on jobseekers allowance but afterall it is a service offered to those who are needing help finding a job and thats entirely what im using it for i.e. not sponging.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thankyou

nuzuki

Thanks for the prompt reply. Are you sure they wont refuse me due to lack of contributions in the last 2 years? It seems from reading the rules it is applicable for contribution or income based. I cant imagine what happens to all those people who decide to live in OZ for a couple of years so im hoping i've misinterpreted the rules.

gibson123

Of course they could refuse but it is unlikely, what are you meant to live on? Apply for income based, it is based on your income and from what you are saying that is basically nil, so unless you have a huge amount of savings then you should get something.

McKneff

You should have gone onto job seekers allowance when you first 'through the towel in' even if you did not want to claim any jsa money your NI stamps would have been credited to you (whilst you were in this country anyway) and you might not be in this position now.

I have no idea about 'income based jsa' and I'm sure someone else will be along to help but there is no point in appealing against
the decision, you have not paid any NI in the qualifying period so you are not entitled to it. It really is that simeple.

Hope someone comes along soon to help.

nuzuki

Thanks for the replies. I was beginning to think after reading some of the stories online they were giving me the run around. I shall give them a call in the morning and ask to resubmit a claim or hopefully modify an old claim. Thanks again

nuzuki

I only found out about the pension stamps thing about 2 weeks ago. When I told asked to two different people I saw at the job centre about this they said I didnt need to worry about that as I was only 30 :mad:

When I was working I was paying into a private pension scheme which started when I was 18 which I believe opted me out of the state pension although I was still paying N.I contributions.

In fact my parents and friends gave me the idea that JSA was the last resort and due to having alot of savings at the time I really wasn't in a hurry to go down that road. Now I have found out about the pension stamps I asked if it could be backdated to which they replied "no". The lady also "assumed" I had been doing cash in hand work which left me feeling like a criminal

McKneff

I wouldnt worry too much about your state pension, as you are only 30, presumably you paid some when you where younger,
you need 30 years worth of contributions to get a full state pension which is easily attainable now. The retirement age will probably 70 plus by then lol.

Private pension or not, you will still be entitled to a state pension. (If they exist by then lol)

Glad you have had some good advice, let us know how you get on please.

And good luck.

Elvisia

You can get income based JSA, which is £67.50 depending on your age I can't remember what age you have to be to get this higher amount). I was in France for five years and paying into their system (which it turns out I can't transfer over here) so when I came back they said no problem go for income-based. It just means you can't have lots of savings (anything over 6k they start deducting JSA, and over 16k you don't get anything). I would apply online again for the income-based one.

Sambucus_Nigra

For future reference. Many jobs offer no personal development and are mundane. That's the way it is.

Has doing nothing for 6 years personally developed you and been un-mundane?

Evilm

nuzuki wrote: »

When I was working I was paying into a private pension scheme which started when I was 18 which I believe opted me out of the state pension although I was still paying N.I contributions.

Thats about the State Second Pension - effectively a top up on the
State Pension. You still had to work the right number of years in order to qualify for the State Pension but if you have a personal pension you could divert funds to that rather than building the Second State Pension.

Can't find a clear article on it but this one partially describes it: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-1640621/Pension-shake-up-Will-you-benefit.html.

FYI - I've had a letter in the past offering me to pay up the missed years of NI (when they mucked up my records so hadn't counted some) for a small payment. You may be able to do the same when you are earning again.