Contribution based JSA and Income based JSA

[dothawkes31]

can someone please explain the difference, apart from the disregards for contribution based, more along the lines of why the rate is the same for someone who has paid 30 years + contributions and someone over 25 who hasn't paid a penny and never worked a day in their lives? Just a simple explanation that does not focus on the other state hand outs like NHS etc that both claimants would recieve equally.

[bednobs]

is that true? I thought contribution based was based on your cntributions - ie if you have none you get none.
As regards to income based, well i personally think it would be unfair for someone older etc to get more. people should need the same amount to live on

[sara3]

hi dot,

the government works out how much they think someone needs to live on, and that's the rate they pay. you don't need any more or less just because you've paid your contributions.

I appreciate you feel (and probably rightly so) that you deserve more than those that haven't paid in, but you're entitled to JSA(C) regardless of any partner's earnings, savings, etc. those not entitled to JSA(C) and have to apply for JSA(IB) will be means tested.

no consolation, I'm sure.. sorry!

[dothawkes31]

I've used the 25 age as that is when income based rates match the contribution rate, someone the same age as myself may not have worked for years but would get the same amount and I have paod in the contributions. £64.30 a week is not enough to keep a car on the road, i could not afford to live even a frugal existence on that amount, why should I do that when I have paid in all these years? I may not live to draw a pension, but i have a private pension anyway, why can i not take out the money i need now? I don;t understand why they will only pay for 6 months either, I have paid in for 31 years with the assumption the state would pay me a devent amount when i needed it. It makes no sense at all, I drew child benefit back when there were 2 of us paying full NI, I haven't recieved any benefits since, it is not registering with me why it is this way, noone can explain to me why the government consider this the right way to do this,

[bednobs]

that's not true - sara HAS just explained, you just dont agree

[SnakeEyes]

Dot i worked for over 33 years since leaving school, Now unable due to illness and because i get a small private pension i am only allowed part of the sick payment from the DWP .I would be over £70 a week better off if i was a pensioner. Don't think i will make it ?

[dothawkes31]

I thought I made it clear that i don't agree that i should be treated the same as someone with no contributions, absolutely I don't, why should I??? I have just emailed my MP to ask how the hell he thinks i can keep my car on the road on this crap amount, it's criminal! the governement have robbed my money and now when i need it they are not letting it go!!! swines, I'm disgusted!!!!

[dothawkes31]

snakeeyes we have all been let down and lied to, NI contributions have been a complete con

[SnakeEyes]

I'm disgusted!!!!
Dot i hope you have good health if you become unable to work then you will be disgusted

[dothawkes31]

not only that, do you know what the bloke who answered the phone at the contact centre asked me????? Do I want to carry on this call in English!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I asked him 3 times what he had said!!!! I was gobsmacked!

[dothawkes31]

I couldn't imagine not being able to work and being in the hands of the benefit agency!!!! they use 0845 numbers and keep you on hold for 30 minutes!!!! then tell you they can't help pay your phone bil!!!

[dothawkes31]

I've explained this to them at the jobcentre, I start work next thursday, but i have really taken a knock having to hang on to start the job, there is no support for people with decades of contributions, we are lumped in with the long term unemployed that really gets me mad!!! I assumed if I never worked again i would still be supported!!! I's all been a hige let down and makes me really dread ever needing the state help long term!

[dothawkes31]

that's a nother issue I had, the jobcnetre is a 14 mile round trip for me, and then if i had any more interviews to go to, where does the petrol money come from? they say there is an application for refund of travel to interview, but they have to ring the people who interview you after the interview to ask if you attended and explain that you want to claim the expenses back!!! how embarrassing and humiliating is that making you feel when you are looking for a job????

[SnakeEyes]

Eddie maybe we slipped up by working

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1076885/Pictured-Inside-luxury-1-2m-council-house--complete-50-inch-plasma-TV.html

[sara3]

SnakeEyes, that's almost a year old. is there nothing more scandalous since then?

[dothawkes31]

why can't anyone explain it though, i know it is the law, passed by the governement, but on what do they base such a ludicrously unfair set of benefits?

[dothawkes31]

Oh and sara, i need about 180 a week to live here, no more no less, that's without my car insurance and car tax

[SnakeEyes]

Only get a couple of papers now due to cost and only get them for the crosswords