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Original poster

can anyone explain JSA to me..been told I can't been paid it but have always worked

32 replies

alltoomuchrightnow · 10/08/2017 02:07

Sat here panicking in floods of tears
Got letter yesterday saying I cannot claim any JSA. I've already had two appointments at the job centre and signed on. I'm going for interviews (two this week for a start). In the meantime I have nothing to live on. I'm nearly up to overdraft limit again.
I've worked full time for 30 yrs.. often more that full time.. a big chunk of that was 6 and 7 day weeks. No kids, no gap years etc. Only had a gap a few years ago when had a breakdown after leaving domestic violence and being homeless. I still volunteered in some of the time I was on ESA

Anyway.. cut to now and I can't claim. Would it be because I'm living with a partner who works? As I'd tried to claim Contribution based (was told to) but am sure in the past when I had brief spells unemployed, it was Income based. (was that because I was single??)

It says 'We have used the tax years ending 5 April 2015 and 5 April 2016 to assess your claim'. This does not make sense to me. I was employed for all that period, working 4 days a week (min wage)
Why don't they look at my entire employment history also?

DP has never earned much, he was getting working tax credits. This year things are slightly better. Right now he's away for two months with work. We don't have a joint bank account or savings so I have nothing. And he won't get paid until after this work anyway. At this rate I'm going to have to see if I can go to food bank. He doesn't have money he can send me.
I don't know what to do. I have an interview tomorrow (well,today)and I'm in a really panicky state now. If I don't get a job soon I have no back up as can't claim anything. I feel totally alone and DP is not back for 6 more long weeks
I live in the sticks and don't know how I"m going to get to interviews now. No public transport..I have to be able to run my car. I spend hours job searching a day and also applying on spec etc. Please don't give me suggestions re what to do to earn money as am doing what can and eBaying life away. I don't have anyone who can lend me.
I just need to understand why I can't claim when I've worked for 30 long years

OP posts:
Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 10/08/2017 02:08

Sorry shocking grammar in title.. typing too fast when tired!

OP posts:
Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 10/08/2017 02:09

By the way.. the letter says I can't claim. I first signed on last week and again two days ago. I have not received a penny, just to make things clear. I can't even afford to get to job centre now anyway (12 mile round trip

OP posts:
SkyWalker95 · 10/08/2017 02:18

If you're household (ie partner) earns more than what you would get on JSA you get nothing. If he earns less you'll get topped up to that amount. Since they've said no that means you have more income than is deemed the minimum necessary to live. You can walk and cash converters your belongings if necessary till the next pay check comes in. Then use the money sensibly till you find a new job.

Broken11Girl · 10/08/2017 02:33

That can't be right, why would they use 2015-16? Who told you to claim contribution-based? It won't be to do with your partner if his income is low. I think someone there has messed up. Even if you can't get JSA, you can apply for income support I think, people aren't left to starve.
Breathe. It will be ok Flowers have a Brew Wine, you can't do anything right now at this hour.
Tomorrow, call the DWP and get some clarification.
Then go to the CAB. They can advise you on your claim, and also help you with a food bank referral or/ and some emergency money, mine gave me a Tesco voucher once, your council might also be able to give emergency loans.
In the meantime, can you borrow from friends or family? No-one likes doing it but if you need to you need to, don't suffer because of pride.

Oswin · 10/08/2017 02:33

If your single it's income based. Contribution based otherwise.
If you are sure you were working and paying NI during that period get them to check. You can ask for a reconsideration.

Oswin · 10/08/2017 02:35

And there is no shame in using the food bank. It's scarily quite normal for a lot of society now.

Please do get them to check again.

AnneGrommit · 10/08/2017 03:32

JSA is awarded in one of two ways - income based or contributions based.

You should be able to get contribution based if you've worked and paid NI for two years, regardless of your partner's income.

If you claim income based then your partner's income is taken into account. Your partner's income is also taken into account for income support.

However I don't know how this works with tax credits - presumably it's a joint claim? Does this make a difference does anyone know? I also don't know how it works if it's a new universal credit type of claim.

Definitely speak to the CAB tomorrow for more information about it and any local services and charities that can help you. Flowers

BarbaraofSeville · 10/08/2017 08:44

I'm another one who thinks you should be entitled to contribution based JSA - ask them to reconsider or explain why they think you aren't entitled. If you have made NI contributions in the last couple of years, which you should have done, even earning NMW for 30 hours pw.

I've always worked but DP has needed to claim contributions based JSA on a couple of occasions (we don't have DCs) and the letter has always referred to his NI contributions - once it said he wasn't entitled to JSA due to insufficient NI contributions - this was because he had been self employed for a year or two but never earned much from it so didn't pay any.

Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 10/08/2017 09:30

tax credits not a joint claim , no.
Skywalker, I can't walk the 12 miles round trip to job centre and have infected feet right so that's a no (from an ad hoc shift i did on Saturday that i won't get paid for for 6 weeks, and had already declared to job centre)
I can't get to Cashconverters, 24 mile round trip. I shouldn't have to be in this position, I've made taxes for 30 yrs

OP posts:
Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 10/08/2017 09:32

I have an interview today and will visit job centre on way back to ask advice. After that I'm only going to have a tiny amount of petrol left
thanks for replies

OP posts:
Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 10/08/2017 09:32

that should read, 'infected feet right now'

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 10/08/2017 09:44

Hmmm, there is quite a bit of misinformation on this thread.

OP, you should be able to claim contributory JSA (cJSA) regardless of your relationship status or your partner's employment status and income, provided you have made enough National Insurance contributions in the last 2 years. Anything before that doesn't count so it doesn't matter if you've been in paid work for 2 years or 30 years or whatever.

If you get cJSA you won't need to claim income-based JSA (ibJSA) If you're not eligible for cJSA you could claim ibJSA but only if your partner's income is under the limit.

Please call or visit your local Citizens Advice as they can double check your entitlement and advise you on how to challenge the decision. They can also give you a food bank voucher if you need one while all this is getting sorted out.

Best of luck for your interview.

Migraleve · 10/08/2017 09:45

You can't say you are annoyed at not being able to claim because you have 'always' worked and then in your next sentence tell us you don't qualify for contribution based because of periods of unemployment Confused

NameChange30 · 10/08/2017 09:54

Also just to explain "the last 2 years" is actually the 2 tax years (April-April) before the current calendar year (Jan-Dec). So the relevant period is April 2014 - April 2016. If you were not paying Class 1 National Insurance contributions at any point during that time (due to unemployment or other reasons) that will affect your claim. If you were on JSA or ESA, you should have got NI credits, but if not you might be able to apply for them. See www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits

Akire · 10/08/2017 09:56

You get JSA contributions for
6m based on what you have paid in. After that it's based on household income so you may not get if partner earns even a small amount.

Unless you have been working very part time on mim wage and therefore not paid any NI or enough to qualify. But given your partner is away at the moment and cannot provide you with any money. I would see
If you can put in a single claim based on income i.e. Zero

NameChange30 · 10/08/2017 10:04

Akire
No the OP cannot claim as a single person while her partner is away for work! Confused

NameChange30 · 10/08/2017 10:07

OP, do you and your partner rent? If so you could probably claim Housing Benefit. You will need to show them the letter about your JSA, plus your partner's recent payslips, plus bank statements. But hopefully you should get it. Citizens Advise can help with that too.

MumIsRunningAMarathon · 10/08/2017 10:55

You have a partner... can't his income cover petrol/food as well?

BarbaraofSeville · 10/08/2017 10:59

Agree that you need to be using your total household income to pay rent, bills, food, petrol etc as a priority. Two months is an awful long time for your DP to go without any money. Can't he ask his employer for an interim payment?

AnneGrommit · 10/08/2017 11:00

Why isn't your tax credits claim a joint one?

BarbaraofSeville · 10/08/2017 11:05

Can you even do a single tax credits claim if you live together as a couple?

NameChange30 · 10/08/2017 11:32

Barbara
No. Has to be a joint claim. If someone is claiming as a single person and then moves in with a partner, they have to notify HMRC who will cancel the existing claim and advise them to make a new joint claim.
If you don't notify them of a change in circumstances and declare all members of the household and their income, you could get overpayments that you then have to repay, or at worst get in trouble for benefit fraud.

Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 10/08/2017 15:18

Partner self employed and away for two months. Will get paid when he's finished that work. So there is nothing till then.
I've been to jobcentre, the letter is correct. Unless I split from partner I cannot get a penny because I live in a household where income is coming in.
They use tax year from april 2015 to april 2016 and I didn't pay enough in that time as worked 4 days a week (though one of those days was two hours shorter than the others) on min wage,

They said there is absolutely nothing I can do and no point appealing 'unless you decide to make yourself single'.
So that's that. Back to the job applications now, wish me luck, thanks for the responses. I will try and get referral to food bank too.

OP posts:
Original poster
alltoomuchrightnow · 10/08/2017 15:20

He's been claiming tax credits for a long time. He's now finally off them. I've not lived with him for that long.

OP posts:
SerfTerf · 10/08/2017 15:33

He'll have to give you something no matter how tight it is. If he's away on a low pay contract, is he at least getting per diems?

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