Refused JSA

[andrewg55]

I have been made redundant and tried to sign on for NI based Job seekers allowance while I am trying to find another job (53 years old and dont hold out much hope). At the Job Centre I was told that because I receive a pension (Had a heart attack 12 years ago and took retirement on sickness grounds, but worked ever since) I could not claim. They also said that there was no point in claiming NI contributions because I had paid the maximum 30 years. On top of that my loans and C/crd are covered by insurance but because I cant get an ABi1 form I cant claim on these. IS THIS RIGHT? I have worked all my life and I get penalised for having had a heart attack!!!!!

[MARTIN3030]

Welcome to the site.

Sorry for the late response.

Will move your thread where hopefully it will get some comments.

[insyder]

Okay, firstly the jobcentre staff have no right telling you there is no point in claiming JSA. They should never give their opinion. More so when it is wrong.

 

Next, pensions are taken into consideration but with JSA contributory it is only deducted after the first fifty pounds. If your pension is around 115 pounds a week or so then there may be a case that your pension income outweighs your entitlement to JSA. Under that figure and you would still be entitled to some JSA.

 

However regardless of that, you need to sign on for national insurance credits to get help from your insurers so whether or not you have paid your 30 years of NI contributions or not is irrelevant. You need to still be available and actively seeking work but you should claim credits only so you can get your ABI1 form completed. Without the proof that you are registered unemployed, insurers will refuse to pay.

 

I don't know what you decided when you visited for your new claim but if you did not pursue the claim on the jobcentre's advice then you need to. Contact them and ask how you can reclaim and backdate the claim to the original date you contacted them citing misinformation. If you did still make the claim (hopefully you did) then you should make the first signing appointment given and continue to sign when they require you to (usually that's fortnightly).

 

Hope that helps.