Claiming new JSA

quacker13

I filled out online application for contribution based JSA on 20th March and just got 3 letters from them. One had my P45 in it. One said that JSA is taxable and that i haven't received JSA before 20th and that they can't check my tax because of lack of info. The final letter says "We can't pay you an allowance from 20th March because the law says we can not pay it"  I'm not sure what it means by "the law says we cant pay it" I can't think on what grounds that could be. I have worked on and off for an agency these past 2 years and I have paid enough NI for 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 but there is no info available for 2019/2020 yet because we are only just in the new financial year. Anyone any ideas as to why the law would state that I couldn't get JSA? or what I should do next? Has anyone else ever got anything similar?  Thanks in advance for any help.

poppy12345

To qualify for New style JSA you need to have paid NI Contributions in tax years April 2017 to March 2019. You can check your NI contributions online. You say you've worked "on and off" how long have you worked for?

Robbie64

Any claim based on your contributions record would be for the last two full tax years before this benefit year (which started on 01/01/20). So that would be 2017/2018 and 2018/2019.

You can check your NI record online at https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record

You will need to register first. You will be able to see if there are any gaps in your NI record for either of those two tax years.

quacker13

Hi @poppy12345 my government webpage says I have full NI for all years but that April2019/April2020 has not been updated. I know I have paid NI for about 9 months in the last tax year with an agency as I think I just had 2 months off in the summer and I finished end of this February 

quacker13

Hi @Robbie64 I am already registered thank you. I checked and I have full NI for 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 which is why the letter has thrown me.

poppy12345

April 2019 to April 2020 is not the tax years that count for a benefit claim. It's tax year April 2017 to March 2019 that count. Seems like you may not qualify for New style JSA.

What about Universal Credit? Providing you don't have savings/capital of more than £16,000 and then you would be excluded from claiming it. Put your details into a benefits calculator. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

If you live with a partner then you'll need to claim as a couple. If you're claiming tax credits then a claim for UC would end the tax credits.

quacker13

Hi @poppy12345 I've just checked my NI record online now and it says that I have full NI for April 2017 to 2019 so thought I would be entitled to contribution JSA as my partner is a key worker at the moment so is still working so know that I can't get any other benefits unfortunately 

poppy12345

You keep saying Contributions based JSA but that doesn't exist anymore. It's actually called New style JSA. See link. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance  Was it this you actually applied for?

quacker13

Sorry @poppy12345 yes the new style JSA is what I applied for. Sorry for the confusion

calcotti

You will need to ring DWP to find out why they say they cannot pay you. Based on your NI record you should qualify.