To think everyone is entitled to jobseekers allowance?

[seekingajob]

I always believed this was the case (as long as obviously one was seeking a job) but it seems I may have been mistaken.

Could anyone explain it to me, idiot-proof?

[LIZS]

If you have a child under 5 and are a lone parent it would be Income Support/Universal credit now. There is also ESA for those who have other issues (mental health, disability etc) which need support but are assessed as being able to get back in to work, sooner or later. JSA itself is contributions and/or income based.

[seekingajob]

Thank you - but assuming that doesn't apply and you're just seeking work, are there any other reasons you wouldn't be entitled to claim?

[BombadierFritz]

You can be too ill for jsa but not ill enough for esa

Or you might have too much in savings but not have paid enough to get contributions based jsa

[treacledan71]

It all depends if you have paid enough ni. If you haven't it will go on your income and/or your partners income so its income based. Think if you have given in a job you do not getv it either. I thought most people were for 6 months . may depend also if youbget a very high redundancy package. Look at tax credits too.

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

Well...not everyone. You need to be habitually resident, and you need to either have paid enough in NI over the qualifying tax years or have a low enough household income.

If you were disabled or a sole parent, there'd be other benefits available, but most people also wouldn't be job searching then.

[knobblyknee]

Its a means tested benefit, so if you have too much in savings you are not eligible to claim.
The limit on savings used to be a generous £6,000 but the rules may have changed recently.
In some circumstances you used to have paid enough in National Insurance contributions, not sure if thats still the case.

[Oldsu]

Everyone is entitled to contribution based JSA for 6 months ( if they are fit and able to work then its ESA ).

After that's its income based and depending on whether you have a partner who works, or has a pension or you have savings over the threshold you wouldn't get IB JSA but could claim for National Insurance Credits.

My situation is this even though I have worked for 45 years I would only get the six months CB JSA, as My DHs combination of State and private pensions takes us as a household over the income the DWP says a couple needs to live on and as I have already paid enough NIC for my pension would not need to 'sign on' for National Insurance credits.

[Oldsu]

sorry I meant is they have paid enough NI in the qualifying year for CB

[OurBlanche]

If you resign you can still claim, it is called 'contributions based JSA'.

I am on it, having quite teaching.

To qualify you have to

• be 18 or over but below State Pension age - there are some exceptions if you're 16 or 17.
  
• not be in full-time education.
  
• be in England, Scotland or Wales.
  
• be available for work.
  
• be actively seeking work.
  
• work on average less than 16 hours per week.
  

www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/overview

There are sanctions that might stop it, being eligible for other benefits may stop it. This site may be useful, it does explain things clearly

www.thesite.org/money/benefits/jsa-complications-9182.html
www.thesite.org/money/benefits/jobseekers-allowance-9203.html

[Junosmum]

You cannot claim jsa if you have savings over 16k (in ready cash or shares, equity in your own home isn't counted). You could get contribution based jsa in those circumstances if you have paid enough NI. But that is a lower amount than normal jsa.

You can't claim either type of jsa if you quit work or were dismissed due to your own fault. You can claim if made redundant.

If you have partner who earns over a certain amount and lives with you you can only claim contribution based jsa (and only if you've paid enough NI).

There are other qualifying criteria (you have to be available and looking for work). If you have a particular qualification or specific training for a certain job you get 13 weeks to look for a job in that field, after that you have to look for, and accept, any job.

You can be sanctioned, both short and long term which would stop your entitlement for a period of time.

[seekingajob]

If you have no other income than what you would have been getting when you worked, then after six months what are you supposed to do?

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

Do you mean when contributions based runs out?

You'd be swapped onto income based if you met the income requirement. If your household income is too high for you to get income based, you'd be expected to live off that.

You're not giving much away so it's quite hard to advise, really.

[LIZS]

www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/eligibility

Also someone leaving employment voluntarily may be sanctioned before they can claim.

[TaliZorahVasNormandy]

You may not be able to claim if you voluntarily left a job without good reason for it.

My friend left a job because of bullying, eventually they allowed her to claim but if she just quit because she felt like it, they wouldnt have let her.

[LucyMouse]

Have your contributions exhausted? If so, you will be subject to the rules of income-based JSA.
How can you imagine that "everyone" is entitled to benefit, no matter what their financial circumstances are?

[OurBlanche]

Not necessarily, Tali. I left 'because I wanted to'.

I filled out the online form and was given and interview date within 48 hours. I signed on immediately, there was no quibbling because I had been fully employed for years and had no previous claims.

I am still claiming, about to change to the NEA, starting up a new business.

[expatinscotland]

In some cases of getting sacked you cannot claim, either.

[WhimsicalWinnifred]

I always wondered this. I applied and was not accepted. We were very young at the time (18/19) and when I called to query it, I was told that Dp was supposed to 'keep me' on his wages. However, my friend at the time was claiming and living with his parents. Apparently, your parents don't have to keep you once you're 18 so he was eligible. Later, I found out My female friends was working but her male partner was eligible in the same county. She wasn't expected to look after him. At 18 I just accepted it and now wonder what actually happened...

[TaliZorahVasNormandy]

My mistake, Blanche. Although if you had done it several times after small periods of employment, they might not have been so agreeable.

Atleast you could claim.

[TaliZorahVasNormandy]

My ex couldnt claim JSA because I was working full time. Never mind the fact I was heavily pregnant and had to go part time because the job and pregnancy didnt agree.

[BluePancakes]

I had a friend who couldn't claim JS. After uni, he had planned to do a PhD so got a temporary job back home for the summer. He quit to go back to uni, however when results were published he didn't get the required First so they didn't accept him on the course - even surprised his tutor. Anyway, he was now living in the university town looking for a job (his rental contract was for a year) but they wouldn't let him claim JS because he "voluntarily" quit his job that was the other side of the country.
This was 10yrs ago now, though, so would not be surprised if things had changed.

[OurBlanche]

I remember DH couldn't claim, but that was after he had been at Uni. Obviously he had been working as and when he could, but not enough to meet the criteria. I had a decent job so he couldn't get Income Based...

I wonder if Contributions Based is relatively new? I didn't think so, but then I have been in work of some description since I left home back in the mid 80s

[FannyTheChampionOfTheWorld]

You were probably still earning more than the couples amount for JSA TaliZorah. It's £114.85 a week.

[TaliZorahVasNormandy]

Possibly Fanny. I dont remember it now, it was 8 years ago.

[GreatFuckability]

If you have paid enough contributions you will be entitled to conts-based jsa. If not, then its assessed on your income, so if you've not paid enough contributions and you have a partner who works then there is a good chance you wont be entitled to JSA.