Voluntary redundancy - JSA and NI credits

What_time_is_it

I'm taking voluntary redundancy at the end of this year. I'm intending to take a year or two off work entirely. Can I claim any JSA in this time if I have no intension of finding work? And can I claim any NI credits for 2025/26 if I am not receiving any benefits? My state pension forecast currently shows as needing another 6 years to get the full £221.20 a week. This will become 5 years in April 2025 as I will have paid in enough during this tax year.

I've never been out of work before so this is all new to me. Basically, I want to make sure I'm not messing up my future state pension.

sammyjammy

JSA - Jobseekers Allowance so no you can't claim it if you aren't looking for work, if you aren't claiming any benefits then you'd need to pay voluntary NI, depending on how old you are will let you decide if you need to do that or not to meet your state pension needs.

LinLui

JobSeekers Allowance is for people looking for work. You can claim it and lie about looking for work, but you'll have to jump through the hoops, and after a short period you can be forced to take any job / attend "training" and "courses" etc. Quite rightly imo - it isn't free money, it is other people paying to support those out of work. 

p00hsticks

One of the eligibility criteria for new Style JSA is that you are actively looking for work so no you can't claim it.
If after a year or two you do start to look for work again you may not be eligible for JSA payments due to the recent years off work but but may be able to claim NI credits. 

There are a number of ways of getting NI credits, but most are linked to receipt of benefits
National Insurance credits: Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Two other ways are to go into self employment and so become eligible to make low-cost Class 2 NI payments or to look after grandchildren while the parents work .Failing that there is the option of making voluntary Class 3 contributions. 

What_time_is_it

Thanks for the above advice. Really useful.
Like I say, new to all this, and just trying to find my way around.