Morris Minor Owners Club

. . . . . some poor sod is going to get a right talking-to when the Job Centre opens after the holidays - apparently, based on the evidence of ONE YEAR (when I was a mature, full-time student) I haven't made enough class 1 NI contributions, therefore I am not going to be paid any Jobseeker's Allowance. At all.
So they never looked at the past fifteen months I spent in full-time work, nor did they look at the many years before 2004 when I was in full-time paid work since I left university in 2001.
I just don't understand how, on the evidence of one year, they can make a decision like that. I will be gathering up my ancient payslips, and the most recent, and going along to have a major rant at them as soon as they're open in the new year.

Cant blame you thats ridiculous

Bloody rediculous cant you get income support?

They do make some bizarre decisions. I'm in the same boat (redundant) and on disability allowance (or whatever it's called this month), which was hard enough. Then they decided that they were paying me £2 a month too much for me to continue to get free prescriptions. It's tricky to keep ones temper with them...

Well, after trawling through many, many websites about this, it seems that I'm entitled to naff all. Only the last two years' worth of NI contibutions count for the contributions-based JSA, and my other half works for a smidgen above minimum wage, so apparently I can't claim income-based JSA either, although how they expect one low wage to cover rent, bills, food and any emergency expenses is beyond me.

Quite. Mind you, when did the bleeding obvious ever come into it?

This is a favourite of the benefit people. What you need to do during any period of non employment is pay Voluntary Class 4 NI to avoid the situation you are now in. This happened to my sister in law, after looking after my dad for three years, the pension due to her was 2P per week.

BTW if you don't ask about Class 4 NI the benefit people will remain silent.
Sorry state of afairs.

How do you think they keep the unemployment figures so low!

Starving us to death - just like 25 years ago

Don't take it out on the job centre staff though, it's not their fault!

I used to work in a benefits office and it's no fun being swore at, spat at and having things thrown at you (and worse) just because you are the bearer of bad news that you have no control over.

Spare a thought for the 'poor sod' who is the recipient of your 'major rant'. They might be a moggy owner.

heheh, my major rants usually mean being very polite, but extremely cold and to the point. I try never to swear in public unless I think it's in an acceptable situation, and having worked in retail, I've had nasty customers too. But the situation is so utterly ludicrous that I do think some form of protest is in order, even if it is just to register my extreme disappproval of the useless system.

Yes, I have now realised that I wasn't informed about paying voluntary NI contributions when I became a mature student - the real kick in the teeth is, had I managed to cling on to my job somehow for just another few months, I would have had something to show for the following tax year.
I'm going to try and see if I'm entitled to any other benefits in the meantime. Oh the joys of filling in government forms . . . . .

JSA is only payable for 26 weeks and is based on contributions in s certain Tax year ususally 18 months in arrears!

They were open last Thursday Friday & will be Tomorrow

Think I might have to go in tomorrow then, at least to enquire about council tax and housing costs help. If they'll even let me have that. I still find it hard to believe that only the last two years are ever taken into account, it's shocking - I could provide a detailed employment history going back nearly eleven years, almost continuous employment.

Council Tax and Housing are a means tested benefit from the Local Authority only!!!

But I thought that the Job Centre could help me with where to go for that stuff?

I'm sure they can. Must pop in and see if there are any jobs for me too Good luck

Good luck, Bigginger.

bigginger wrote:I'm sure they can. Must pop in and see if there are any jobs for me too Good luck

Are you Polish otherwise you might be wasting your time - especially in this area (Stoke-on-Trent)
Also no matter what your skill level or qualifications expect no more than minimum wage- probably for shifts and having to travel 20 miles each way for the pleasure of working.

Paul Humphries

i can remeber when there was no work for me in england i had to get off my but and go to germany for work
a bit like the polish coming here

paulhumphries wrote:

bigginger wrote:I'm sure they can. Must pop in and see if there are any jobs for me too Good luck

Are you Polish otherwise you might be wasting your time - especially in this area (Stoke-on-Trent)
Also no matter what your skill level or qualifications expect no more than minimum wage- probably for shifts and having to travel 20 miles each way for the pleasure of working.

Paul Humphries

Thanks for the cheerful thought...