Job seeker allowance?

[hilaryfrances]

How come I keep hearing about people being on this for years but I could only claim for 6 months?

[ErikaPNP]

Because you would have been receiving contributory based JSA, which is only paid for a maximum of 6 months. When a person applies for JSA, they are firstly assessed according to their national insurance record. If sufficient class 1 NI contributions have been paid in the qualifying years (the last two complete tax years prior to the current benefit year - so for a claim made in 2010 this would be the tax years 07/08 and 08/09) then that person will be paid contributory based JSA for a maximum of 6 months. It is paid regardless of capital and most types of household income. Some forms of income such as a personal or occupational pension can affect it.

 

If a person has not made sufficient contributions in the qualifying years, or once contributory based JSA has exhausted and they want to continue claiming JSA, they will be assessed for income based JSA. This has no exhaustion date. If the claim is successful, it will continue until someone finds a job or until they are of pension age. Income based JSA as the name suggests is based upon the total household income and any capital. If you have a partner that works over 24 hours per week or who earns above the income threshold, a person will not qualify for income based JSA. If you have capital under £6000, it will not be affected. If you have capital between £6000 and £16000 JSA will be reduced by £1 per week for every £250 or part thereof between the two figures. It the capital is £16000 or more, income based JSA cannot be paid.

[hilaryfrances]

thank you for clearing that up