Job seekers allowance.

Discovery1964

Hi everyone. I am looking for advice with regards to my cousin claiming Job seekers allowance.
Basically he worked all his life untill the factory closed down, and as he has terrible eyesight he stayed at home with his mother to look after her, (he never married).
So he looked after his mum for the last eight years but did not sign on, and did not claim anything from anywhere.
Now his mum has died he has had to find his own house, and i have told him to sign on as a jobseeker, basically to get his stamp paid for his future years.
He claims he has been to the job center and they have told him that as he has over the limit in savings that he cannot sign on untill the money is below the limit.
I know he will not get any benefits because of his savings, and he cannot get any because he has not paid stamp for the last eight years, but i thought he could sign on and get his stamp paid at least for his future pension etc.
It is really sad as his health has failed since his mum died, his eyes are terrible, and now he has vertigo, and he really does not know what to do as his mum did everything for him.
Any advise would be helpfull. Many thanks.

sammyjammy

He mst certainly can make a claim for JSA, is he actually fit for work? Has he been to see his GP about his problems? Remember he'll only need 30 years worth of contributions to get a full state pension so depending on how long he worked he might not need to bother.

I hope you can help him, he sounds like a lost soul.

Discovery1964

Hi. No i dont think he is fit for work, his eyesight is terrible, i have to take him to hospital as he cannot even see the bus numbers, he is on antidepressants since his mums death, and yes he does see his GP regularly.
He does have at least 30 years stamps paid, but my thinking was if he could sign on, even if he got no benefits, are the social obliged to at least pay his stamp for him ( i am self employed and although i have way over the limit, i still get my stamp paid if i am off sick).
Plus i thought if they refused to let him sign on due to being unfit for work, then surely he has a rubber stamped application for other benefits to help him.
He really cannot help himself, its not his fault, but my worry is that although he is willing to live off his savings, what happens when it runs dry and he still has no stamp paid.
many thanks.

xylophone

If he hasn't worked and hasn't signed on he won't have the necessary contributions for cont JSA and it looks as though he has too much by way of savings for income related JSA?
There is a lot of information here http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/benefits_e/benefits_benefits_introduction_ew/national_insurance_contributions_and_benefits.htm

Why doesn't your cousin make an appointment with a benefits adviser at the CAB- you could go with him?

northerntwo1

How old is he?

You say he has at least 30 years stamp (so worked for 30 years) for the last 8 years he hasn't been claiming. That is close to 40 years, so he is near retirment age?

Discovery1964

Hi.
He says he has been to the CAB and claims that they were nasty and unhelpfull, but to be honest i don't believe him, as he says this about everybody at the moment, i have tried to get him to go with me but he always has an excuse, he is a great guy, its so sad to see him in this state, i really think he is totally unfit for work, and as such should be on some form of benefit, i know he has money and he is willing to spend it, but it seems so unfair as he has always worked and saved hard to provide for his old age, it looks like he will need it sooner that anticipated.
He has already tried to commit suicide the night his mum died, and as he has no other family i am really fearfull he may try it again. I am the only person he has in the world, so i really need to try and push him somehow.

Discovery1964

I think he is 55 now. he started his job on leaving school in the good old days.

t0rt0ise

If he has 30 years of stamps fom working then he doesn't need to sign on to get any more stamps. That's probably what he's been told. No point in signing on. But if he isn't capable for work then he should be on the various disability benefits.

xylophone

http://www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss/yourmoney/benefits/Pages/benefits.aspx
Any help here?

Would he talk to the Samaritans?

If he lives alone is he entitled at least to council tax discount?