No longer able to claim JSA and receive NI credits...?

mark99

I was claiming JSA on and off throughout 2018 and during the periods I was claiming I was only eligible for NI credits.

At the end of December last year I made a new claim (rapid reclaim) for JSA. however, I have now been told that the claim cannot be accepted and a claim for Universal Credit must be made. I have savings in excess of 16K so I am not eligible to make a UC claim. Is there anyway that I can get around this and somehow get my NI credits while I am unemployed and looking for work.

Having paid 24 years of NI contributions while working it seems a bit unfair that I am denied NI credits while I find myself unemployed.

Pippa_Alumni

Hi @mark99, and a warm welcome to the community! Hopefully some of our members will be able to share their thoughts on this.

cara

Hi Mark what was the reason you are not entitled to JSA?

Bungalow

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/National-insurance-contributions-(NIC)/What-is-a-national-insurance-number

poppy123456

Bungalow said:

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/National-insurance-contributions-(NIC)/What-is-a-national-insurance-number

That link isn't working.

mark99

cara said:

Hi Mark what was the reason you are not entitled to JSA?

Because I was working for a foreign company abroad four years before being made unemployed and did not pay NI during that time.

mark99

I now have the issue resolved.

I think it was a deliberate attempt by the Jobcentre staff (who are bullies) to try to deny me access to benefits. I have now made an official complaint.

Basically, a claimant needs to contact the DWP by phone or in person at Jobcentre (cannot be done online) and request to make a claim for National Insurance credits only and they will be sent Form JSANC1 to complete and submit.

Here's two interesting links... .a FOI request and discussion in another forum regarding the same issue.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/claiming_new_style_esa_or_jsa_wh

https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/12162/#56392

The frustrating thing is if I had taken the word of Jobcentre staff at face value and not contested their advice, I would have lost out on benefit that I am entitled to.

cara

Mark that's why I asked. It's good you have it sorted. Don't believe a word they tell you always check out what they do say.with this government the onus is on the claimant to know what to ask for!

BenefitsTrainingCo

mark99,
So glad you got this resolved, and apologies that we were not in the forum in time to tell you to be persistent! I'm glad you were.

As you have discovered, DWP are completely wrong & no claim for UC is needed. 

There has been no change to the availability of NI credits for those who cannot claim new style contributory JSA - the only change is that the underlying benefit is new style JSA which comes under different regulations, but it doesn't affect your entitlement to credits at all.

Will