Does having an army pension at 43 mean no entitltement to JSA?

Peppapig

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong place.

My son in law has just left the army after 26 years and is looking for his first job in the outside world. He has claimed contributions based JSA which has been refused on the grounds that he receives a pension from the army. Does anyone know if this is right? He's queried it with the jobcentre and they've said it's right and we've checked direct.gov which doesn't say anything at all.

It seems ridiculous that he's claiming a benefit based on his contributions, still has another 23+ years before he reaches retirement age, is actively looking for work and yet doesn't qualify for JSA. He won't qualify on income grounds as his lump sum means they have savings (although not for long at this rate) but I can't understand why the army payment should disqualify him when he isn't claiming a means tested benefit and he isn't anywhere near the age where he isn't expected to work.

Has anybody had any experience of this please or can you point us in the right direction?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Upsidedown_Bear

I found this:
"Contribution-based JSA is £56.80 per week if you are under 25 and £71.70 if you are 25 or over; but you may get less if you have part time earnings or a personal/occupational pension."

From here:
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/working_or_looking_for_work/jobseekers_allowance.aspx

superwoman4

When claiming Contribution Based JSA there is a £50 disregard on an occupational pension.

If the occupational pension is at least JSA of £71.70 + £50.00 a week then CB JSA would not be payable.

Peppapig

Thanks Superwoman and Upsidedown bear - both replies are really helpful, didn't realise that. I think the pension is about £600 per month so that would seem to be why he isn't entitled. If only the jobcentre were as clear and concise as you - it's so much easier to accept something if you understand the reasons for it.

Thank you both again.

Dunroamin

Any occupational pension affects contributions based JSA, he isn't being penalised because he's left the army.

He may also need to consider signing on for NIC credits as he hasn't enough years yet for a full state pension.

Peppapig

Thanks Dunroamin - understand that now. At the moment he's signing on at the jobcentre every two weeks to keep up his NICs - have everything crossed that his job search will be successful soon.