Should I claim JSA?

[Wincher]

I’ve recently taken voluntary redundancy and got a healthy payout. My husband is a high earner so we’re not going to starve any time soon. I’ve just found out that in fact I can claim JSA for six months without it being means tested. It feels a bit wrong to do so as I don’t need the money, but am I right in thinking it will cover my national insurance contributions if I do so? Or at least make it so there’s not a gap as such?
I’m not very actively applying for jobs right now as am ensconced in home schooling, but will step it up once the kids are back in a couple of weeks.

To claim JSA then you need to be job searching as that is what you are being paid the benefit for. How much they are checking up that people are job searching at the moment I'm not sure.

It will be a huge hassle claiming. If you don't need the money don't bother. But up to you.

Yes you should, though it will be Universal Credit I think.

Though, if your husband is a high earner, you probably won't qualify. How much does he earn?

"am I right in thinking it will cover my national insurance contributions if I do so? Or at least make it so there’s not a gap as such?"

Yes. You get NI credits while you're claiming JSA.
Also, even though it's not a huge amount of money and you might not need it, it's the principle of the thing. You've paid into the system and you should claim what you're entitled to IMO.

Even if they won't give you any money, they may pay the NI contributions though. I'm sure someone with actual info will comment as I don't know.

typicalvalues
New-style JSA is separate from universal credit, it's based on the claimant's NI record and not means-tested, so the household income/savings are not relevant.

@typicalvalues

Even if they won't give you any money, they may pay the NI contributions though. I'm sure someone with actual info will comment as I don't know.

Why comment then?!

Why comment then?!

Because it's a discussion forum?

It’s not a huge hassle to claim at the moment and I would claim it.
There are two types - contribution based and household income based.
If you’ve been paying NI for the last two years, you are eligible to claim regardless of your husbands income but you ‘should’ be job hunting

@typicalvalues

Though, if your husband is a high earner, you probably won't qualify. How much does he earn?

6 months contributions based JSA isn't means tested. It's all you get if your partner is earning (not necessarily a high earner) or / and you have more than 6k in the bank.

OP here's the info from gov.uk for you

"While you receive New Style JSA you’ll be awarded Class 1 National Insurance credits, which can help towards your State Pension and other contributory benefits in the future."
www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance

@Abouttime

It’s not a huge hassle to claim at the moment and I would claim it. There are two types - contribution based and household income based. If you’ve been paying NI for the last two years, you are eligible to claim regardless of your husbands income but you ‘should’ be job hunting

The means tested one is Universal credit.

Yes, I’m definitely job hunting - in fact it could be a moot point as I have a second interview coming up soon for a job. I’m kind of hoping putting in a claim might be a sort of Sod’s law thing for getting the job! And if that doesn’t come off I will be getting down to serious job hunting once the kids are back at school anyway, so I should be able to prove I am doing so.
Useful to know that claiming gives me NI credits, thank you @AnotherEmma. I’ll give it a go. I used to donate to a couple of charities through payroll so should maybe set up new direct debits to those charities to assuage any guilt from claiming.

I'm not sure whether the fact that you have taken voluntary redundancy will affect you being able to claim New style ESA.

I would (and did in 2019) because I think it's important that we all have a stake in the welfare state.

No it doesn't.
Whether voluntary or not, redundancy does not count as resignation so there are no sanctions.
It's still dismissal basically.

Cross post, I was replying to Babyroobs.

Definitely claim, you don't know what could change.

It's not hard to claim, they don't check up on you or check you've applied for jobs etc. I claimed last year for two months and never heard a peep from them. They are not expecting people to do this in the current situation.

Be aware you have to pay tax on it though and it's not taxed at source so set the tax aside to pay later.

Also be ware, the only way to end the claim, when you get a job, is by phone.

I was in your situation 2 years ago - I claimed for exactly the reason you've said, no break in NI contributions.

I also did as you've suggested and donated the money charity!

Just be aware you have to pay tax on it though, it's not taxed at source so you have to complete a SA and pay the tax through an adjustment to your PAYE code or you can opt to pay it as a lump sum - so maybe keep some back that

The day after redundancy
You should be able to claim universal credit contributions based job seekers allowance for a certain time period
Apply online www.gov.uk
Yes your NI will be paid
Good luck
Your redundancy pay is not taken into account for a certain time period

Its only 35 years NI for a full state pension, so unless you have a long break from employment you are unlikely to really need the NI credits, so if you don't need the money I wouldn't bother.

Just eavesdropping here...

Really useful information thank you OP and AnotherEmma

Sorry to jump on this
My stepson is 20 and has been unemployed since last summer (he got the first furlough and made redundant afterwards).
We have been helping him out with money because he said when he and his mother looked into JSA he hadn’t paid enough tax so couldn’t claim.

Is this the case because I didn’t think it was based on contributions any more.

'New style' JSA is contributions based. Your stepson should be able to claim Universal Credit though.