Does £73 a Week in JSA Sound Right?

pennypincher3562

Hi

I've been working for about 20 years solid, and recently have had to sign on.

Just got my letter with regards to Jobseeker's Allowance, and they have said they will give me £73.10 a week. Does that sound about right?

In the letter they also say that:

'We cannot pay you Jobseeker's Allowance from February 8th 2016. We cannot pay you because your entitlement based on Class 1 National Insurance Contributions has run out.'

I really don't understand the above. It seems to suggest that despite working for 20 years, they well cut me off by February 8th. Is this normal?

Also, I am currently paying a mortgage, will any mention of housing benefit, and council tax relief come in a separate letter?

Thanks
PennyPincher3562

missbiggles1

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

Hi

I've been working for about 20 years solid, and recently have had to sign on.

Just got my letter with regards to Jobseeker's Allowance, and they have said they will give me £73.10 a week. Does that sound about right?

In the letter they also say that:

'We cannot pay you Jobseeker's Allowance from February 8th 2016. We cannot pay you because your entitlement based on Class 1 National Insurance Contributions has run out.'

I really don't understand the above. It seems to suggest that despite working for 20 years, they well cut me off by February 8th. Is this normal?

Also, I am currently paying a mortgage, will any mention of housing benefit, and council tax relief come in a separate letter?

Thanks
PennyPincher3562

Contributions based JSA only lasts for 6 months, after that you switch to means tested JSA if you're eligible. You claim SMI if you have a mortgage, not HB, and there's a waiting period for this.

rogerblack

You are not entitled to housing benefit as you own your own home.
JSA (contributory) is only payable for 6 months.
You would need 'support for mortage interest' - which would require you to be also entitled to income-based JSA - do you have savings of over 16K, or household income?
Council tax support may help you pay council tax.

merlin68

You dont get housing benefit for a mortgage. You get smi after 13 weeks they pay so much for the interest which you have to apply for . Council tax support is claimed from the council.
I have to pay £4.79 a week towards mine.
£73 is also correct amount doesnt matter how long you have paid in for.

pennypincher3562

Hi All

Thanks for the replies. I have no savings over 16k, and no household income at present.

Do I actually have to specifically ask for SMI, and council tax relief, or will I be enrolled by default (as they know every detail of my background.)

I typed all my details into the calculator at entitledto.co.uk, and it suggested I should be getting about £100 a week in total.

Cheers
PennyPincher3562

beecher2

https://www.gov.uk/support-for-mortgage-interest/overview

Apply to your local council for council tax reduction - they should have forms online

rogerblack

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

Do I actually have to specifically ask for SMI, and council tax relief, or will I be enrolled by default (as they know every detail of my background.)

As a general point, you need to apply for every single benefit separately. Not doing so, and not doing it - even if some other department has said they will do it for you is risky.
Many benefits cannot or will not be backdated for this reason alone.
Not letting each benefit know about changes of circumstances may lead to overpayments, and subsequent accusations of fraud.

pmlindyloo

pennypincher3562 wrote: »

Hi All

Thanks for the replies. I have no savings over 16k, and no household income at present.

Do I actually have to specifically ask for SMI, and council tax relief, or will I be enrolled by default (as they know every detail of my background.)

I typed all my details into the calculator at entitledto.co.uk, and it suggested I should be getting about £100 a week in total.

Cheers
PennyPincher3562

As already said you need to apply for council tax reduction from your local council. This is not done automatically when on contribution based JSA.

As regards the SMI you should complete a form and your lender should complete some information. Ask about this at your local Job Centre.

Information about SMI

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repossession/mortgage_arrears/support_for_mortgage_interest

I do not know your financial position but it might be sensible to speak to your mortgage lender and update your circumstances as the money will be paid directly to them.

konark

If JSA (contribution-based) is paid at the same rate as Income -based, I mean, what is the point of
1) 20 years of NI contributions?
2) Having any differentiation between the two JSA s, if you have no savings they are identical.

When I claimed it many years ago CB was substantially more than IB and based on the amount of NI contributions made.

nannytone_2

i can't remember them being paid at different rates, but they may have been.
contributions based JSA ignores any other household income, so you can get it if you have a pension or a working partner or even if you're a millionaire .... you are entitled to it because you have paid for it.
to get income related, you can have savings of less than 5k and any household income over £73 a week would cancel it out completely.

contributions don't just pay for JSA. and you would have already received services that you have contributed towards, and in the future you will receive a full state pension that you have contributed towards.

if you are unfortunate enough to be out of work for 6 months, you will be entitled to income related JSA if you don't have savings or a working partner or a pension, so just like everyone else that has run out of contributions

Londonsu

konark wrote: »

If JSA (contribution-based) is paid at the same rate as Income -based, I mean, what is the point of
1) 20 years of NI contributions?
2) Having any differentiation between the two JSA s, if you have no savings they are identical.

When I claimed it many years ago CB was substantially more than IB and based on the amount of NI contributions made.

20 years of NI contributions pays towards your state pension.


Try having 45 years of NIC and face having no entitlement for IB JSA once CB JSA runs out, that's what will happen to me if I lost my Job and at age 60 couldn't get another one.