JSA Contribution based - fail

bauhaus_modern

Okay, i suppose i'm just on here for a whinge:hello: and to see if anybody else is in the same situation as me.
Today, my appeal for JSA contribution based - failed. I'm quite gutted - i still have to pay for expenses of living and full council tax, and don't receive any 'in kind' benefits such as free dental (live in Scotland, so prescriptions are free). I'm not entitled to ordinary JSA as i live with my partner who earns too much (he can't even get tax credits). We're not married, and have no written wills, so when either of us 'shuffle off this mortal coil' we'll get no pensions, inheritance or any 'entitlements' from this 22 year relationship - kind of rubbish since i'm considered a dependent when it comes to shelling out cash rather than inheriting it.

My JSA claim was made as i'd come to the end of a temporary job contract, also, funding for my PhD had ended... so i'd been working for a year but had been receiving a grant for the three years prior to this. The way calculations for JSA are made, meant that i had no valid contributions for the years in which they are basing my record (2010-2011)... all this despite the fact that i am 40 and have a record of work and contributions for 20 years prior to this!

Anyway, i just think this is unfair. I have no income at all and i can see this becoming a stressful situation very quickly. Are other people affected by this type of arbitrary 'contribution period' rule?

Just sharing my pain:(. No offense to anyone in any different/similar circumstance is meant by anything i've written here.:A

Torry_Quine

That's the way that contribution based JSA is calculated and as a couple you are supposed to support each other. You will still get your NI contributions paid which will go towards your state pension.

I would definitely encourage you to both to write a will though or some other person will inherit when you die.

killerkev

Torry_Quine wrote: »

That's the way that contribution based JSA is calculated and as a couple you are supposed to support each other. You will still get your NI contributions paid which will go towards your state pension.

I would definitely encourage you to both to write a will though or some other person will inherit when you die.

That's probably why no one marries or states they are in a stable relationship these days get more benefits being single
I was on incapacity benefit for years have just been told will not be transferred to ESA, go to the job center to apply for JSA result sorry your wife earns to much, even thought the job center said I am not fit enough for work because I don't get enough points for ESA (despite points on IB) basically told to get lost

Nada666

Partners support each other shock!

Torry_Quine

killerkev wrote: »

That's probably why no one marries or states they are in a stable relationship these days get more benefits being single
I was on incapacity benefit for years have just been told will not be transferred to ESA, go to the job center to apply for JSA result sorry your wife earns to much, even thought the job center said I am not fit enough for work because I don't get enough points for ESA (despite points on IB) basically told to get lost

If people are living together and not telling the benefits agency then it's fraud if any means tested benefits are claimed, surely you can't condone that.

You haven't got ESA as you failed the assesement which is nothing to do with being married. Obviously you would have supported her were the roles reversed.

Have you appealed the ESA decision though?

seven-day-weekend

bauhaus_modern wrote: »

Okay, i suppose i'm just on here for a whinge:hello: and to see if anybody else is in the same situation as me.
Today, my appeal for JSA contribution based - failed. I'm quite gutted - i still have to pay for expenses of living and full council tax, and don't receive any 'in kind' benefits such as free dental (live in Scotland, so prescriptions are free). I'm not entitled to ordinary JSA as i live with my partner who earns too much (he can't even get tax credits). We're not married, and have no written wills, so when either of us 'shuffle off this mortal coil' we'll get no pensions, inheritance or any 'entitlements' from this 22 year relationship - kind of rubbish since i'm considered a dependent when it comes to shelling out cash rather than inheriting it.

My JSA claim was made as i'd come to the end of a temporary job contract, also, funding for my PhD had ended... so i'd been working for a year but had been receiving a grant for the three years prior to this. The way calculations for JSA are made, meant that i had no valid contributions for the years in which they are basing my record (2010-2011)... all this despite the fact that i am 40 and have a record of work and contributions for 20 years prior to this!

Anyway, i just think this is unfair. I have no income at all and i can see this becoming a stressful situation very quickly. Are other people affected by this type of arbitrary 'contribution period' rule?

Just sharing my pain:(. No offense to anyone in any different/similar circumstance is meant by anything i've written here.:A

Sorry for your situation.


The thing is, if you'd paid your house insurance for twenty years, and then didn't pay it for two, you would not expect to be able to claim on it. It's just the same with qualifying periods for Contribution-based Benefits. You have to have paid at the right time.

jacques_chirac

killerkev wrote: »

That's probably why no one marries or states they are in a stable relationship these days get more benefits being single

No one? Around 250,000 marriages took place last year.

killerkev

Nada666 wrote: »

Partners support each other shock!

Correct, but if I get divorced, and move her in next door I'll be £1000's better off !! as many single mums know never get married just have your partner live somewhere else (claim the cost on Housing benefit)

jacques_chirac

killerkev wrote: »

Correct, but if I get divorced, and move her in next door I'll be £1000's better off !! as many single mums know never get married just have your partner live somewhere else (claim the cost on Housing benefit)

You can still be classed as LTAHAW whilst claiming for two separate dwellings. The element that seems to be missing from your proposed set up is honesty.

killerkev

jacques_chirac wrote: »

You can still be classed as LTAHAW whilst claiming for two separate dwellings. The element that seems to be missing from your proposed set up is honesty.

Again absolutely right that's why I'd never do it. But shows that honesty does not always pay!! I paid into the system for 35 years never been unemployed until 2005 when I had to give up work due to a back injury and became unfit for work but under the new ESA rules am classed as fit for work as I can walk 200 meters, move a empty box sit for 15 mins (see I was too honest) I can't bend, lift, use painkillers, back supports etc.

Neelienew

My other half supports me even though he only earns National minimum wage. We'd be better off living separately, but suppose we're old fashioned so that's not an option!