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

[alltoomuchrightnow]

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

4 days a week at minimum wage should have been enough to give you Class 1 NI Credits (which is what you need to qualify for contributions-based JSA). You would have got Class 1 credits if your earnings were above the lower earnings limit (£111/week in 2014-15, £112/week in 2015-16). Minimum wage was £6.50ph in 2014-15 so if you only needed to work 18 hours a week to meet the lower earnings limit. How many hours were you working?

You should check your NI contributions record OP www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record and get advice from CAB if it's incorrect.

Yes it's unfair that only the last two years is taken into consideration. It's quite straightforward though. Entitlement is based on previous two years contributions for contributions based and paid for six months afaik. And then it's income based and depends on your household income. If you live with your partner then his/her income is taken into consideration.

I find it somewhat interesting that you were unemployed during the qualifying period, yet you didn't claim then? Maybe had you done so you would have got something as your class 2 would have been up to date at that point?

Migraleve, the qualifying period according to my letter is April '15 -
April '16 and I worked four days a week in that period as a shop manager on min wage. Now this is just before the min wage went up so I was on £6.50 an hour (I can't remember exact figure - this is off top of head) If I'd been on what min wage is now, I might actually qualify now..it's nuts

The qualifying period should be April 2014 to April 2016. It's 2 years. They might have mentioned the tax years ending in April 2015 and April 2016?

You can sign up online and view your NI and Tax account www.gov.uk/personal-tax-account to double check what DWP are saying.

hi Name I didn't work for all of 2014 so merely have not paid enough. They don't go by my entire work history and just that period.
But the main thing is living with my partner
So anyway I accept that,but don't have anything coming in right now
but waiting to hear from interviews and doing some steward training next week - am doing what i can