How much National Insurance Contributions Do you have to pay...

HuddsM

to claim Contributions Based Job seekers allowance please?

I've heard it's 6 months over the allocated tax years but am not sure. Thanks for your help!

Cpt.Scarlet

You need two full years of contributions during the tax years 09-10 and 10-11

HappyMJ

and calculating 2 full years is very difficult. You can reach 2 full years by working 6 months of each year if your income level is high enough. If you earnt minimum wages you would have to work close to 52 weeks.

HuddsM

I'm sure it's not two full years- I've heard that it's around 6 months in each of those tax years but haven't been able to check it!

HuddsM

Just read your reply Happy... in the 10-11 tax year I had the full year's of contributions because claiming JSA counts as contribuiting... in 09-10 I probably only did around 6 months, do you think I've still got a chance of getting it? (My wages weren't massive but above min wage and full time in both years.)

HappyMJ

HuddsM wrote: »

I'm sure it's not two full years- I've heard that it's around 6 months in each of those tax years but haven't been able to check it!

Did the national insurance office write to you to ask you for more contributions to make up a complete year of contributions? If they did then they don't count. If they did not then you can ask for a pension forecast. You can do this online and you will see if the years counted or not if but really only if you knew how many years you had two years ago. They may also say on the pension forecast what you can do to make the last few years count. If any years are incomplete the notice will say what you can pay to make them complete for pension purposes but that won't be enough for JSA and other contributions based payments now. JSA requires only employee Class 1 contributions only and voluntary contributions to make up a year are Class 3. Self employment contributions are Class 2 and they don't count either.

HuddsM wrote: »

Just read your reply Happy... in the 10-11 tax year I had the full year's of contributions because claiming JSA counts as contribuiting... in 09-10 I probably only did around 6 months, do you think I've still got a chance of getting it? (My wages weren't massive but above min wage and full time in both years.)

JSA contributions do not count for further contributiions based benefits. JSA contributions only count for your pension which makes it even more confusing.

HuddsM

Thanks for your reply.

I guess I'll have to decide whether to go through the deliberately hard and humiliating experience of claiming it then... it's so wrong that people who save money are penalised and those who don't aren't. Is there anything I can do to help myself- I have a gut feeling that my 09-10 contributions might be slightly short but my 10-11 ones will be OK.

Mara69

HuddsM wrote: »

it's so wrong that people who save money are penalised and those who don't aren't. Is there anything I can do to help myself- I have a gut feeling that my 09-10 contributions might be slightly short but my 10-11 ones will be OK.

Even those with savings can claim CBJS - as long as they have paid enough contributions. Anyway, it is not wrong - your attitude is what is wrong here. Why are so many people against actually paying their own way if they have the means to do so? Benefits are a safety net - designed to prevent absolute poverty and homelessness - not designed to ensure those that have saved can hang onto their savings!

HuddsM

No it isn't at all- I do my best to earn as much money as possible which is what the economy needs. Yet there are people who have hardly ever worked who claim JSA practically for life, and immigrants who have paid nothing into this country who do the same- when people see this they have less incentive to work.

thorsoak

HuddsM wrote: »

No it isn't at all- I do my best to earn as much money as possible which is what the economy needs. Yet there are people who have hardly ever worked who claim JSA practically for life, and immigrants who have paid nothing into this country who do the same- when people see this they have less incentive to work.

So does the fact that "people who have hardly ever worked who claim JSA practically for life,"make it right for everyone to take the same attitude?

I really think that you need to reconsider your position, my friend!

From the age of 15, earning £1 per week in my Saturday job, I paid 3d in national insurance, I've worked, married, brought up 4 children - all of whom have worked and contributed to the economy of the country since they were teenagers and only now am I claiming my pension - but because I'm over the limit for guaranteed pension credit, I am also working - so I'm still contributing to the economy and paying taxes.

I don't consider "my" NI contributions to be solely for my benefit - they make up part of the whole cake - and attitudes such as yours means that there is less cake to go round those who really need it!
Did

Mara69

HuddsM wrote: »

there are people who have hardly ever worked who claim JSA practically for life, and immigrants who have paid nothing into this country who do the same- when people see this they have less incentive to work.

You should worry less about what other people are claiming and concern yourself with your own business.