Trying to figure out eligibility for conts based JSA..

Anne1234_2

Hi,
I'm having a confusing time trying to figure out my eligibility for conts based JSA, which I may be claiming in the new year..

I registered for a personal tax account on the .gov site and it says I have 2 full years of paid NI for 14-15 and 15-16.
It says I paid around £200 in 14-15. I worked 20 hours per week and earned £150 per week through the whole year. No gaps or sickness
In 15-16 my hours increased, I worked 32 hours per week and it looks like I paid around £430 NI. No gaps in employment in the year.

I know the new benefit year starts in January and they could use these years to assess my eligibility, I'm just really confused about how to work out my NI payments against the LEL.. could anyone help at all?

Also I realise I could claim UC but I really do not want to if I can help it - for various reasons, the main one being the 7 week wait for a payment.

Thank you and happy new year.

[Deleted User]

If you live in an area where UC has been introduced you will have no choice.

Diary

venison wrote: »

If you live in an area where UC has been introduced you will have no choice.

Could you link where you found this information please, you sound very definite that people who are entitled to contribution based jsa will have no choice but to claim universal credit. This wasn't my understanding at all and I'd like to read about it. Thanks.

nannytone_2

universal credit only replaces income related benefit.
a contributions based claim will still be JSA