Job Seekers Allowance - Not enough National Insurance Contributions?

Alias_Omega

The question is really for Mrs AO.

We've recently returned from living overseas with the UK Government, we were paying UK taxes, receiving child benefit/tax credits etc.

Upon returning back to the UK, Mrs AO was entitled to claim Class 1 National Insurance Credits from 2010-2013.

Once the Class 1 National Insurance Credits were applied, Mrs AO applied for Job Seekers Allowance to help with the transition back into work, it was not for the £££ but more for the assistance.

However, Mrs AO was refused as

"We cannot pay you because you have not paid, or been credited with, enough Class 1 National Insurance Contrubutions.

We have used the tax years ending April 2011 and 5 April 212 to assess your
claim."

(Mrs AO thinks its because she does not have the working element of it)

Any ideas?

I think Mrs AO hoped that JSA would be paid, which could be used to cover the expenses of childcare/uniform costs for the voluntary placements.

bryanb

Assume you were working for British Gov. But was Mrs AO?

midnight_express

Credits don't count towards JSA. She can still sign on if she wants to.

Dunroamin

I didn't think NI credits counted towards JSA but I haven't checked that yet.

Alias_Omega

bryanb wrote: »

Assume you were working for British Gov. But was Mrs AO?

No, therefore Mrs AO was entitled to claim NI Class 1 credits. The inland revenue have a special form which was downloaded from the website, signed & accepted.

midnight_express wrote: »

Credits don't count towards JSA. She can still sign on if she wants to.

We have a letter from the Job Centre Plus. I quoted the bit of text they have entered into the letter. I gather Mrs AO can attend the Job Centre, but would receive no JSA funding.?

sammyjammy

Credits can count towards entitlement to JSA but you also have to have paid employee contributions in the relevant two tax years. To be honest any help she received would be limited and may well have seemed like a hinderence so unless she needs the credits for pension purposes I personally wouldn't bother.

Alias_Omega

sammyjammy wrote: »

Credits can count towards entitlement to JSA but you also have to have paid employee contributions in the relevant two tax years. To be honest any help she received would be limited and may well have seemed like a hinderence so unless she needs the credits for pension purposes I personally wouldn't bother.

The credits for being overseas have been credited, were going to pull the pension statement and have a look at how far behind the curve Mrs AO is.

JSA - Im leaving this with Mrs AO, as she is the one who has to sit in the house all week moaning at me. I'm happy for her to return to work, aslong as it covers the extra childcare costs.

AO.

Who?_me?

If you are not after the money, then you are better of just leaving it. You are probably earning enough to not qualify for income based JSA, or any other benefits other than CTC. The Job Centre will be of no use what so ever to helping Mrs AO find work. If she wants to work, she can just look like everyone else does, register with the usless Univesal Job Match, look on line /. in papers / send out speculative CVs. Unless you need the money,I would stay clear of the job centre / department for work and pensions. She can do all the job seaching with out any of the patronising.

Alias_Omega

Hi WhoMe?

It was more for the whole "SureStart"/"Connections" type of contacts.

Its easier to obtain a trial placement in a job through the Job Centre, than it is to simply walk in and say.."Hi, ill work for free..".

Who?_me?

I don't think you don't have to be getting benefits for Sure Start.
Benefits in a nutshell. There are two types of Job Seekers allowance.
If you have paid enough NI Class 2 contributions, you can get JSA contibution based. This is regardless of what your partner earns.
If neither of you work, then you can get income based JSA and this will bring benfits such as Housing Benefit , council tax credits, Free school meals, and other things. If your wage is over a certain amount then you won't be eligable for any other help even if she signs on. There are benefits calculators on .gov.uk or on MSE somwhere, that will give you an idea of what you may get., or talk to your local Citizens Advice.
A trial placement through the job centre I dont know about. It does depend very much on what sort of think Mrs AO wants - what her qualifications are. If she is 18-25 then there will be load of help available, if not, then unless she has poor literacy and numeracy skills, they wont' be able to help much. If you / she are ex forces, I believe there is special help systems that are for service personnel, but I don't know.
Re work experience, the Citizens Advice Bureau use alot of volunteers and provide training, and many places will take on peoople who walk in and say "I will work for free" because they are desperatly understaffed, but can't afford to take anyone else on.
Most things that the job centre offer are no different to what you can do yourself, but without more idea of level of education / sorts of employment looking for, then it's hard to guess what would be best.
The alternative is to work from home, there are lots of businesses such as Avon or greetings cards or book sales, even Ann Summers (!) to earn money in your own time. Good luck with what ever you do.