State benefits: serving and ex servicemen and women are NOT entitled!

governmentloser

According to a Government website promoting the "Armed Forces Covenant,"
"the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. 
Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens, in the provision of PUBLIC and commercial services." 

What it does not reflect is that if you are in receipt of an Armed Forces pension (whether commuted or not), you will not be entitled to ANY state benefits. This is because you will not qualify for Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) and unless you qualify for JSA, you will not be entitled to apply for any other state benefits. 
Unfortunately it doesn't end there. If you are unemployed or have been made redundant, the Government will only pay your National Insurance contributions (NIC's) for 12 weeks. After that you are on your own.
This means that unless you pay your NIC's yourself (i.e. from your service pension as you don't have any other income), your state pension will be affected because you will not accrue the required  NIC's to qualify for a full state pension.
So much for the Government ensuring that service personnel are valued and are not disadvantaged! 

tomtom256

Any pensions income being paid affect's beneift, so you are not disadvanatged, as this aplies to other citizens aswell.

You can however make a non-claimant claim to JSA though, to get your stamp paid.

You can also still claim Universal Credit, however any pension income received will be treated in the exact same way as any other pension income, unless it is a war disablement pension.

Silvertabby

As tomtom says, this applies to all pension recipients, not just the Armed Forces.

When Mr S and I retired from the RAF we needed 44 years of NI contributions (him) and 39 years (me) so the resettlement financial advice in the event that we didn't find new jobs straight away was to 'sign on' so we wouldn't lose a full year.

I don't know if it's any easier now, but back then it was a right faff - there was no such thing as a 'stamp only' claim - we had to apply for JSA even though we knew that we didn't qualify for actual payments.

unforeseen

I don't know if it's any easier now, but back then it was a right faff - there was no such thing as a 'stamp only' claim - we had to apply for JSA even though we knew that we didn't qualify for actual payments.

I know what you mean. When I came out, I tried to explain that I wanted to sign on just for the stamp as I wasn't entitled to any money. They just couldn't get their head around that idea and tried telling me that I couldn't sign on because I want entitled to JSA. I gave up and luckily got a job pretty quickly so didn't lose out. 

Silvertabby

unforeseen said:

I don't know if it's any easier now, but back then it was a right faff - there was no such thing as a 'stamp only' claim - we had to apply for JSA even though we knew that we didn't qualify for actual payments.

I know what you mean. When I came out, I tried to explain that I wanted to sign on just for the stamp as I wasn't entitled to any money. They just couldn't get their head around that idea and tried telling me that I couldn't sign on because I want entitled to JSA. I gave up and luckily got a job pretty quickly so didn't lose out. 

Same here.  But ours just couldn't get their heads round the fact that we had pensions in our 40s.  They insisted that we complete the actual JSA application form, and one question was how much  we had in savings.  The explanatory notes said that if we had more than £6K (?) then we wouldn't be entitled to means tested benefits.  We both put 'over £6K' only to have the forms returned to us to input the actual amount.  For their records.  We didn't comply.

Eventually received letters saying that "your application for JSA has been considered, but has not been approved because (wait for it....) according to Government guidelines you have too much money to live on".

We had 3 or 4 month gaps between leaving the RAF and starting work, and we did eventually get the NI credits, but of course we didn't actually need them.  The wonders of hindsight.

calcotti

governmentloser said: Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens, 

Which is largely true. There are difficulties around some disability benefits and UC has some areas which were not worked out properly.
Interesting report from British Royal Legion here
https://storage.rblcdn.co.uk/sitefinity/docs/default-source/campaigns-policy-and-research/rbl_-making-the-benefits-system-fit-for-service-report.pdf?sfvrsn=f5f29164_2

governmentloser

1. "Any pensions income being paid affect's beneift, so you are not disadvanatged, as this aplies to other citizens aswell."

I understand that but I think you have missed my point.
The point I was making was that JSA is the trigger for other benefits. I totally understand that  pension income and JSA income can be fairly similar. For example (and picking purely arbitrary figures), one group of individuals might receive say £200 a week income from their service pensions whilst the other group receive £200 a week from JSA. So, in terms of weekly income,  ex service personnel (and others in receipt of non service pensions) are on a level playing field with those receiving JSA.

However, those on JSA can then potentially be entitled to claim a host of additional benefits whilst those on service pensions are not. How is the former group not disadvantaged?

To make it a level playing field all the Government would need to do is lift the requirement for individuals to qualify for JSA to enable them to claim other benefits. 

2. "You can however make a non-claimant claim to JSA though, to get your stamp paid."

I tried that at the local Job Centre but the computer said no. According to the very nice man there I could only have my NI contributions paid for 12 weeks as I wasn't on JSA. If I had been on JSA my NIC's would be paid until such time as I was employed again and when I was no longer in receipt of JSA.

Again, to make it a level playing field change the rules and only pay everyone's NIC's for 12 weeks.

Spoonie_Turtle

governmentloser said:

1. "Any pensions income being paid affect's beneift, so you are not disadvanatged, as this aplies to other citizens aswell."

However, those on JSA can then potentially be entitled to claim a host of additional benefits whilst those on service pensions are not. How is the former group not disadvantaged? 

JSA claims now are all contribution-based (for 'new-style' JSA) and don't passport to any other benefits.  Universal Credit has replaced income-based JSA and does passport to other help.

tomtom256

governmentloser said:

1. "Any pensions income being paid affect's beneift, so you are not disadvanatged, as this aplies to other citizens aswell."

I understand that but I think you have missed my point.
The point I was making was that JSA is the trigger for other benefits. I totally understand that  pension income and JSA income can be fairly similar. For example (and picking purely arbitrary figures), one group of individuals might receive say £200 a week income from their service pensions whilst the other group receive £200 a week from JSA. So, in terms of weekly income,  ex service personnel (and others in receipt of non service pensions) are on a level playing field with those receiving JSA.

However, those on JSA can then potentially be entitled to claim a host of additional benefits whilst those on service pensions are not. How is the former group not disadvantaged?

To make it a level playing field all the Government would need to do is lift the requirement for individuals to qualify for JSA to enable them to claim other benefits. 

2. "You can however make a non-claimant claim to JSA though, to get your stamp paid."

I tried that at the local Job Centre but the computer said no. According to the very nice man there I could only have my NI contributions paid for 12 weeks as I wasn't on JSA. If I had been on JSA my NIC's would be paid until such time as I was employed again and when I was no longer in receipt of JSA.

Again, to make it a level playing field change the rules and only pay everyone's NIC's for 12 weeks.

You have missed the point, benefits are no longer reliant on JSA (IB) being in payment, as they where years ago.
All means tested benefits have been replaced by Universal Credit, for new claims. So whether you wher on JSA or not would no longer passport you to other benefits.

Also a non-claimant claim is a claim to JSA, but you only get your stamp paid and receive no financial assistance, you do however get the support of a work coach if you need one.

I would suggest actually reading up on benefits, so you actually understand what you are being told.

calcotti

governmentloser said:

1. "Any pensions income being paid affect's beneift, so you are not disadvanatged, as this aplies to other citizens aswell."

I understand that but I think you have missed my point.

I think you have missed the point which is that service are not disadvantaged compared to other citizens in that any citizen with pension income is treated the same way.

In terms of 'passport benefits' these are primarily free health benefits and anyone not on benefits but on a low income may be able to take advantage of the NHS Low Income Scheme.

governmentloser

You have missed the point, benefits are no longer reliant on JSA (IB) being in payment, as they where years ago.
All means tested benefits have been replaced by Universal Credit, for new claims. So whether you wher on JSA or not would no longer passport you to other benefits.

Also a non-claimant claim is a claim to JSA, but you only get your stamp paid and receive no financial assistance, you do however get the support of a work coach if you need one.

I would suggest actually reading up on benefits, so you actually understand what you are being told.

Thank you Tomtom, you are clearly an expert. I wish you were employed at my benefit centre to correct the advisors who told me I wasn't entitled to anything. I was told I could not make a non claimant claim to have my stamp paid. I am told one thing by individuals that crunch keyboards on a daily basis and another thing by you. Thanks for the advice ..   they know my details and now I can happily advise them that they are wrong.