whats the difference income or contribution jsa

scousedave

Hello.
Im recently unemployed after 30+years of continuous employment.
Just signed on..how do the two types of jsa differ and how are they calculated?

[Deleted User]

if you have the correct NI cont (and you probably have)then you will get jsa for 6 months and it wont be means tested,after 6 months it will be means tested,against household income and savings

p00hsticks

... also being on income based JSA rather than Contributions based passports you to a number of other benefits such as SMI (Support for Morgage Interest), free dental treatment, free eye tests, etc....

scousedave

So am I getting this right?
Ss an example the more you hsve paid into the system over the years tje less help you get ie mortgage help or have I got it the wrong way around?

Caz3121

If you have a large amount of savings or a working partner you would not be entitled to IB JSA, so by having paid into the system you get 6 months of JSA benefits that you would not get otherwise.

I think you may be able to claim both (if you would be entitled to IB JSA) they will assess you for CB first but you may have an underlying entitlement to IB which could help with the mortgage interest etc which does not kick in till 13 weeks anyway

rogerblack

scousedave wrote: »

So am I getting this right?
Ss an example the more you hsve paid into the system over the years tje less help you get ie mortgage help or have I got it the wrong way around?

'Over the years' is irrelevant for anything other than your state pension.
For a new claim, only the contributions made from tax years 10/11 and 11/12 matter.
_nothing_ else.
If you have worked all your life, except April 11 to April 12, for example, you will not be entitled to contributory benefits.
(Subtract a year if you made the claim last year)