Jobseekers Allowance

[juneybean]

Whats the difference between contribution based and income based?

I'm apparently not elligible for contribution based?

Bumpp

I do not know exactly how they work it out, but they look at your previous NI contributions. When they run out (or after 6 months) you then get put on to income based. Not sure how the money differs.

I wonder why I'm not entitled I've been working since I was 16 lol

Have the job centre actually told you that you are not eligible for contribution-based? Do you have any recent gaps in your employment? Is it possible that someone mixed up income-based and contribution-based? I would ask for clarification as to exactly why you are not eligible.

You have to have worked or been entitled to class 1 contributions for various periods during the two relevant tax years. If claiming now these years would be 07/08 and 08/09. Entitlement is calculated by another department and automatically uploaded onto the JSA system. If you have been in employment during these periods (not self-employment) you should be entitled. Sometimes dodgy employers don't pay your contributions, this happens quite a lot. You can ask your processing team to start an investigation if you feel that this decision is wrong. Even better, if you have p60's for both tax years, that's even better.

They sent a letter saying I was not elligible.

I don't think I paid enough in 07/08, not really sure about 08/09 as I was only working part time as I was a student

But I've paid £660 in 09/10 and I've just been made redundant but not elligible for redundancy lol.

Then it sounds as if you may not be entitled to contribution-based. Have you investigated income-based allowance?

I'm going to the job centre on Wednesday and have filled form in for income-based, I was worried about my savings though but the cut off is £16k and I haven't got that much! lol

Query it Inland revenue may have their figures wrong - believe it or not they often make a mistake, has happened to me and other people I know.

You're better off on income-based JSA anyway. On this you are entitled to prescriptions, dental treatment, court costs, free school meals, home-access grant. I'm sure there are others, but on contribution based you're not entitled to any of it.

That's so bizarre isn't it? You pay your stamp, lose your job and not entitled to anything lol (the contributions based I mean)

Thanks for replying! I will see what they say on Weds

But for income based JSA they do take savings into account - you're allowed to have some but I'm sure it affects your benefit under £16k. And if you have a dp/dh who has a job then you probably won't get JSA, if they're on JSA you will get JSA as a couple which assumes your expenses are lower.

But do get advice on what benefits you are entitled to - if jobcentre doesn't explain properly you could go somewhere like the CAB.

I'm single and no kids.

Someone on another thread said they take off £1 for every £250 over the £6k threshold.

I've looked on that entitledto website and I'm only entitled to the JSA as I live with parents, have no dependants, am only 24.

Juneybean.

It sounds like you havent paid enough contributions in one of the revelant income tax years 07/08. Tax year 09/10 is irrelevant at the momemt.

You will probably get income based if your savings are less than £16000.

As I explained on the other thread the deduction is £1 for each part of £250 once it starts being applied at £6000.

Eg 7000 is a £4 deduction 7050 is a £5 deduction.

Actually sounds like you may not have paid enough in either tax year to be honest so Income based is prob the way to go.

Thanks again for replying I'm going there tomorrow so hopefully I'll get something!

So bizarre.... I'm to sign on every fortnight, no mention of my savings?

The jobcentre arent going to tell you the outcome of your income based claim.

You need to ring benefit processing. Ask if its been assessed. if not doing they need any further info. If you havent sent in bank statements yet do so. Leave it more than 1mth then the claim will fail.