JSA entitlement - Less earned income disregard?

jmb1

I was recently made redundant. I've completed an estimation form on entitledto which says I am eligible for both universal credit and new jsa but bemused by the fact it states I'm entitled to jsa @ £90 per week, however it due to "Less earned income disregard" it's reduced to £3 p/w. My understanding was it isn't means tested or income based or looking at my partners income. I know it's hard to say without knowing exactly what else I input on the form (which seem correct to me) but what other factors, generally, could have this effect? My partner is earning less than £1k per month take home and I entered zero (unemployed, apart from my continuing self employment but that is only £500pm income. No savings or other between us. I've been employed for 4 years so cant imagine it's down to NI contribs (or could it?)

p00hsticks

No expert, but I suspect it's probably down to your continuing self-employed income ?
It won't relate to savings or your partners income and I think your NI record just results in a binary eligible / not eligible decision. 

Spoonie_Turtle

JSA is classed as not means-tested in that it doesn't take into account any savings, other capital, or partner's income. 
But because it's an income-replacement benefit it does take into account your income to an extent - earned, and some unearned (e.g. pension income).  So presumably your self-employed income is what reduces it.

poppy12345

There's only a £5/week earnings disregard for yourself when claiming New style JSA. Anything over that will reduce your JSA £1 for £1. 

jmb1

Hmmm. So on the face of it the only real benefit of claiming this (aside from travelling 5 miles to 'back to work' interviews asking for evidence of what I've done to find a job) would be to receive class 3 NI contributions?. I'm wondering if I'd be ok missing a few contribs and then (if necessary) 'filling in the gaps' and paying them posthumously when I return to work. @ £17.50 pw from what I've read.

poppy12345

For New style JSA you would receive class 1 NI credits. Not sure if you could claim this for credits only, especially when you are self employed. 

jmb1

poppy12345 said:

For New style JSA you would receive class 1 NI credits. Not sure if you could claim this for credits only, especially when you are self employed. 

Hmm ok my mistake, thought it was class 3. I guess my first port of call would be to check my forecast, accept i cant access my online portal, (due to recent possible identity theft, discovered when HMRC sent a letter informing of a change to my tax code,m stating I was also working for some UK based Romanian constrction company!). They've resolved that issue quickly but still waiting for them to sort out my access to my online portal.