Rapid Reclaim of Contribution Based JSA

Keedie

Hi All,

I am in receipt of contribution based JSA which is payable for 6 months (I am 1 month into signing on). But I may hopefully be starting a short term contract lasting 3 months.

When this work ends, if I unable to find another role and have to do a 'rapid reclaim' for JSA, will that reclaim give me a 'fresh' 6 months of contribution based JSA, or is it paused (at say 2 months), and the remainder (4 months) is paid if/when I reclaim?

Sorry if this makes no sense, but I am unsure how this all works. I am hoping that someone can advise me, as I have searched online and can't find the answer and my work coach doesn't seem to know either... any input or pointers would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
xx

NYM

As it's based on the NI contribution in previous tax year(s) it is possible I suppose. :think:

Not sure if you can find the answer you need in this decision making staff guide.. but you might

I'd look it up for you but I'm too tired right now... good luck x

Mersey_2

As far as I know, it - the previous NICs - entitle you to 6 months' worth of contribution-based JSA within the year. So, yes you couldn't claim for 4 months work, work for a month then claim for 6 months as that'd be 10 in that year.

Keedie

Thanks NYM and Mersey for your responses, it is much appreciated. I couldn't work out which document to read from the link that you gave NYM, but what Mersey said sounds about right. I thought that might be the case but couldn't find a way to confirm it.

And through all my goggling I found out that the benefits year is from January to December. So hopefully I can keep going from one fixed term role to another without needing to sign on, whilst trying to get something permanent. But if I do have to do a rapid reclaim, then at least I know that my NI contributions will not have too many gaps, as I think from next April they are making changes to the state pension and the amount that you pay in for each qualifying year affects the tariff rate of the pension when you (eventually) get to retire. Is that true?

Thanks,
xx

epitome

If the break in your two claims is 12 weeks or less, the two claims will link and the remainder of your 6 months will be served.

If the break in your two claims is more than 12 weeks, but you are still reclaiming in the same "benefit year" (essentially January 1st - December 31st (it's not exactly that, it's something like from/to the first Sunday or Monday in January)) then you will qualify again for JSA Conts and you will use up the remainder of your 6 months allowance. (this would be impossible for you to do now because it is November)

If the break in your two claims is more than 12 weeks and you are reclaiming in a new benefit year, then you will have to qualify again for JSA Conts based on the RITYs (Relevant Income Tax Year) that are relevant for your new claim, if you are claiming again in the following year, you will re-use the later RITY on your previous claim and the next consecutive tax year...you may - or may not re-qualify but if you do re-qualify, you would get a new 6 months.

The JSA claim you are on now, used RITYs
13/14
14/15

A new claim made in 2017, more than 12 weeks after your previous claim finished would use RITYs
14/15
15/16

xylophone

next April they are making changes to the state pension and the amount that you pay in for each qualifying year affects the tariff rate of the pension when you (eventually) get to retire. Is that true?

Have you obtained a new state pension forecast?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-a-state-pension-statement

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matters/pensions/what-the-new-state-pension-reforms-mean-for-you/

Keedie

Thanks very much epitome, that really helps! I understand it all a lot better now. As the job role is 'up to' 3 months the claims would be linked. But I have a better understanding of what might happen later next year if for any reason I remain on JSA for a few months, or am only able to get another fixed term contract.

xylophone - thank you for the links, I will check them out. I am 35 and have been working for over 10 years with full NI contributions, so I guess I meet the minimum threshold. But I will order a statement to see where I stand in terms of what I have to do to obtain the maximum weekly amount. As due to health concerns I was hoping to work part time, but I don't want to get stung later on, by trying to keep well enough to work now and have a work life balance if that makes sense?

epitome

If someone becomes long term unemployed on JSA, they can use these rules to their advantage, by closing their JSA claim leaving it 12 weeks or more and then making a new claim. This new claim will have to use a new RITY to get another 6 months.

It becomes easier to do this, if you have signed on immediately after becoming unemployed because the JSA NI Credits that you accrue whilst claiming, go towards satisfying the Second Contribution Condition.

Most people who have been full time employed should be able to make this work for a second session of 6 months JSA.

Making it work for a third session of 6 months JSA conts would only be possible if you had either worked above LEL earnings between the 1st JSA & 2nd JSA claims, or had claimed another benefit between the 1st and 2nd JSA claims, e.g. ESA, or Carers Allowance or Income Support.

Keedie

Thanks again epitome - this is all very useful, and very much appreciated :0