JSA, signing off and work, can I claim again - after how long?

fannyadams

Apologies for posting in the wrong place but I'm a bit confused about how the 'system' works.
I was made redundant on 31 March, claimed JSA and I get contributions based JSA, I am told that after 6 months they will stop paying this and, (I have assumed that) because my partner works I won't get the other type of JSA which is a little bit OK but I am kind of enjoying the 'freedom' of being at home with mi kidz (tm), and the other volunteering activities I have taken on in the meantime.

Anyway what I want to ask is
Can I sign off (after the 6 months is up) and do a temp job doing (say) data entry (@£8.50/hour) do it for (say) 3 months and then come back to the Job Centre and claim for contributions based JSA again?
I think what I am asking is how long would I have to work for in order to be able to claim & receive contributions based JSA again?

I've looked on the direct gov website and it's looking like it's 2 years before I can claim contributions based JSA. Does this mean that if I am out of work within the 2 years I can't get contribtions based JSA?

Thank you in advance for any assistance.
FA
xx

epitome

First off let me tell you that this area is very poorly understood by the general public and by lots of DWP staff. Someone who would be expected to understand it (well you would hope so) would be the Decision Maker in the Benefit Centre who makes a decision of eligibility based on earnings and contributions. However, I have done my own research into the subject, and have looked at the DWP guidance on this and written below, is my understanding of it. The difference between what I will say on this subject and what others would have you believe is that I can direct you to DWP Decision Makers Guidance that proves everything I say is correct. But don't take my word for it, write to the Benefit Centre and ask them to confirm it. But even if I'm wrong, you haven't lost anything.
If you want to read it yourself ....http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dmgch21.pdf
It is the sections on "first contributions condition" and "second contributions condition" that you are interested in, and below that is all the parts about how linked claims are affected.
*********************************************************

When did you start your claim?

Your claim was based on tax years 9/10 & 10/11
In one of those those tax years you will have paid at least 26 weeks NI class1 (at LEL level) to satisfy the 1st condition.
You will also have paid or been credited with at least 50 times LEL earnings for both years to satisfy 2nd condition.

So your claim runs out beggining of October.

If you theoretically***(be careful, see below) claim again in January 2013 (but not before), they will use tax years 10/11 & 11/12
Assuming you satisfy condition 1 using tax year 10/11 again,
We already know you satisfy condition 2 for tax year 10/11
You therefore only need to satisfy condition 2 for tax year 11/12
If you worked full time from April 6th 2011 - March 31st 2012 you would more than likely satisfy this condition.

If you have your P60 for tax year 11/12 with you, what is the amount in column 1? and you can put column 2, 3, & 4 up aswell and what 2, 3, & 4 are titled would also help. If you want, you can PM this info to me.

*** The reason I said be careful is that if the new separate claim is linked to the original claim they will still use tax years 9/10 & 10/11 again and you will fail the tests. *Claims are linked within 12 weeks of a previous claim. If your claim stops in early October 12 weeks will be end of December ish, If you claim in January and there has been at least a 13 week gap, then they will repeat one tax year 10/11 and use the new year 11/12 aswell. Assuming you satisfy condition 1 & 2 for these two tax years I would expect you to qualify again for a further 6 months.

The problem with this is that for those 13 weeks you will get no NI credits.

Not having NI credits for those 13 weeks could affect any future claims to JSA C or ESA C

What I am unsure of is the scenario where your JSA C stops in October, and you move onto just NIC only......Does the period of NIC only count as a claim to JSA which can be linked to when doing a new claim in January/February? I don't know the answer to that question, if you wrote a letter to the Benefit Centre asking that question they should tell you.

If it doesn't then you should not sign off
If it does then you should sign off

Note: all the above does not even require you to have found work in order to qualify again in 2013

If you want to qualify for 2014 you would have to have worked for 26 weeks earning LEL or above, employed, class 1 during tax years 11/12 or 12/13
and you would have to have "earnings factor" = to 50x LEL for both those tax years.
Earnings factor is is earnings on which nat ins is paid up to the UEL limit
and includes credited earnings during periods of unemployment when you are getting NIC credits only from the jobcentre. Note: if in one of those years you are relying 100% on credited earnings you need 50 credited weeks, so if you signed off for 13 weeks you would not qualify...., now you see why it's important?

LEL rates can be found on the internet usually directgov or HMRC "LEL rate 2012-13" would find you the LEL rate for Tax Year 2012 - 13

fannyadams

Epitome - THANK YOU. I only wish I could click the TY button more than once.
I'll go and find the paperwork and come back to you in a bit. I know for certain my P60 is wrong as it's the one from the job centre and it ONLY has the Job Centre (JSA) payment on it not all the money I got from my previous employer (who I left on 31 march).
*tootles off to have a rummage through all paperwork*
I'll be back.
THANKS AGAIN!

fannyadams

I have PMd you Epitome. Thanks again.
FA
xx

epitome

I PMd you back

thanks

got to go bye