New style JSA refused, don't know why

[JustAnotherBrickInTheWall]

I lost my job just before covid hit, and had no luck finding a replacement role in my field despite applying to many. I've applied for new style JSA but have been rejected but they haven't said why. I meet all the criteria as far as I'm aware. I've tried to call to get a reconsideration but I can't get through as the call cuts off when you get through to the reconsideration option.

Anyone any clue why i may have been rejected, has anyone else had this? have they automatically assessed me for universal credit? (I wouldn't qualify as I have savings)

Could be something to do with National Insurance contributions over the past 3 or so years.

It's almost certainly your national insurance record - either it shows that you don't have enough in the qualifying period, or you haven't paid the right kind.

What have you been doing work wise for the last 3 yrs? Working FT, PT (how part time?) self employed?

I was employed part time (3-4 days a week) so should been have sufficient? Are NI contributions income based? I was a higher rate tax payer.

There is a threshold - lower limit is £120/wk, so If you paid higher rate tax then you should have the necessary contributions.

Have you been employed continuously without gaps?

You can check your national insurance record online. It's the class 1 contributions that count.

Is there any chance your ex employer wasn't paying the NI/Tax they deducted from employees over to HMRC? Was the company in trouble, did you get made redundant? And just because you were reviving payslips doesn't necessarily mean all was well with HMRC.

Thanks ISleep. I was made redundant. Company not in trouble and pretty much zero likelihood of anything financially untoward going on. I'll check my contribution levels though.

Just checked. My NI is fully paid up for the past 10 years.

Have you not had a letter giving you the reason?

The other big reason would be that you haven't satisfied them that you have been looking for work since you lost your job and you are continuing to look for work.

That's odd. Were you self employed?

They wouldn't automatically assess you for UC if you applied for new style JSA as they are different benefits, you would need to actually submit an online application for Uc to be turned down for that. For Uc any savings over 6k would reduce your Uc entitlement, over 16k they would not be any entitlement at all.

I applied online and there were no questions about job hunting. The letter just says they cannot pay me because "the law says we cannot pay you". Which isn't very helpful.

Unless they think I'm still employed/within my notice period (I'm not).

Thought I'd come back with an update in case it helps anyone else.
HMRC had my NI contributions as Class 3, which aren't eligible for JSA, as they thought was self employed (I had a dormant company a couple of years ago while also on PAYE). I've had to send evidence of paying NI via PAYE so that they can correct their records to make them Class 1 which will take about 6 weeks. Unbelievable.

How did you find out they have put them down as Class 3?
What evidence are they accepting as payment of Class 1 - P60s?

I rang the benefits helpline (took an hour to get through), they told me I had class 3 so wasn't eligible and suggested I ring HMRC. Yes, HMRC asked for copies of my P60.

Thank you everyone, you guessed right on what the problem was!