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Eligible for nothing?

Frank93
Posts: 3 Newbie
Hi everyone,
I'm extremely confused here and seem to have fallen down a gap in the system, can anyone advise? I'm a UK citizen, and have just finished 5 years at University and am looking to claim JSA/UC for a few weeks to support myself until I can find a job. I live in a full UC service area and applied last week. I got called today and was asked questions, one of which was whether I had been out of the country for more than 4 weeks in the past 2 years. Last summer, after saving for a year with my part time job, I went away for 5 weeks with my friends. I was told that I was not eligible for UC based on this, and that I should claim JSA.
I've tried to claim JSA but have been told that I can only claim contributions-based JSA, which I can't because I never broke the tax-threshold with my income from my part time job. I've been on the phone to various people for the past 2 hours, but have been told I can't claim UC and I can't claim JSA. I have appealed the UC claim, saying that I was on holiday, but they said the system wouldn't let them put it through.
Am I right in saying that because I went on a self-funded holiday last summer, I am eligible for zero support? I find odd, surely it can't be the case?
Advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance.
I'm extremely confused here and seem to have fallen down a gap in the system, can anyone advise? I'm a UK citizen, and have just finished 5 years at University and am looking to claim JSA/UC for a few weeks to support myself until I can find a job. I live in a full UC service area and applied last week. I got called today and was asked questions, one of which was whether I had been out of the country for more than 4 weeks in the past 2 years. Last summer, after saving for a year with my part time job, I went away for 5 weeks with my friends. I was told that I was not eligible for UC based on this, and that I should claim JSA.
I've tried to claim JSA but have been told that I can only claim contributions-based JSA, which I can't because I never broke the tax-threshold with my income from my part time job. I've been on the phone to various people for the past 2 hours, but have been told I can't claim UC and I can't claim JSA. I have appealed the UC claim, saying that I was on holiday, but they said the system wouldn't let them put it through.
Am I right in saying that because I went on a self-funded holiday last summer, I am eligible for zero support? I find odd, surely it can't be the case?
Advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance.
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Comments
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Check with both of these, see if the same answer comes up: (We don't know ALL your PRIVATE details..)
https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators
Hope you find a job soon.0 -
Thanks, that says I'm eligible, but it did not ask if I had been out the country for more than 4 weeks, which is the issue?0
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Try this
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/Check-if-youre-eligible-for-Universal-Credit/
- and on the right it talks about chatting online to a (CaB) adviser
Also found thisIf you need help with your claim, call the Universal Credit helpline on:
0345 600 0723
Lines are open between 8am - 6pm, Monday to Friday (closed on bank and public holidays).0 -
That's great, thank you very much, I'll try citizens advice bureau. Already tried that number but was told they could not help.0
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Can’t help with UC but for contributions based JSA the tax threshold is irrelevant, it’s based on NI contributions.0
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theartfullodger wrote: »Try this
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/Check-if-youre-eligible-for-Universal-Credit/
- and on the right it talks about chatting online to a (CaB) adviser
Also found this Explain you were on holiday but are "habitually resident in UK"
Follow this advice.
I believe the not being out of the country for 4 weeks is a gateway condition for Universal Credit which seems to suggest that you are not in a full service area so you need to use the CAB link to find out what kind of UC is operating in your area. Then call the advice line or pop into CAB for some help.0 -
If you don’t qualify for a contribution based benefit I would have thought an income based benefit would be ok. You wouldnt get anything for time spent out of the country.0
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I've tried to claim JSA but have been told that I can only claim contributions-based JSA, which I can't because I never broke the tax-threshold with my income from my part time job. I've been on the phone to various people for the past 2 hours, but have been told I can't claim UC and I can't claim JSA. I have appealed the UC claim, saying that I was on holiday, but they said the system wouldn't let them put it through.0
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Darksparkle wrote: »I’d imagine because he’s in a UC area?0
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