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.

[dothawkes31]

I was told today by the woman on the jobcentre switchboard that i did not have an advisor and she had a busy switchboard and so could i ring off!!!
Another one the other week said i had had the good times now i should put up with the bad!!!!!!!!! If i;d have been her boss and heard her say that i would have disciplined her.

[SnakeEyes]

Sara one day you may see me in court but it will not be for having any capital ?

[caththecrazy]

Many of us are moaning but hand on heart how many have written to our mp and complained?

Anyone received a reply?

[sara3]

sorry SnakeEyes, you've lost me. is that a threat?

[sara3]

I wrote to an MP once, cath, and it certainly got things moving. they can't ignore letters from constituents.

of course, that doesn't mean you always get the answer you want!

[dothawkes31]

i have just emailed mine tonight cath, i shall await a reply!!!

weeal, i am responding to the points made, with my usual enthusiasm , i may be back at work next week, but i have had an experience with the benefits agency that i found appalling and i won't be letting it pass

[craft1948]

I wrote to John Prescott once.......judging by the reply I got he couldn't understand my joined up writing....

[sara3]

btw, I'm not actually the Government. I didn't make the rules, I just tried to answer the points you raised.

[sherrardk]

My husband has had a terrible time with the lack of common sense shown by the local Job Centre. When anyone messes up they say it someone else's fault. The list of incompetent decisions/questions/interviews is endless. As professional people who never thought they would end up in this situation it is frustrating beyond belief. Do they really think people want to be going into there manky offices to endure such incompetence? I can completly understand your frustration - it must be awful for people who can see no light at the end of the tunnel.

[weeal]

I didnt even bother claiming for my short time between jobs, just isnt worth the hassle and the anguish youre putting yourself thro, and I got no pay-off. Ive got my sanity tho (just)

wibble wibble

[SnakeEyes]

sorry SnakeEyes, you've lost me. is that a threat?

Threat from somene who can't walk far ?

Sara i mean i may be in for debt . LOL

[caththecrazy]

I wrote to mine once and I go a reply

which said something along the lines of

We are in receipt of your corespondence and will give this matter our full attention.

Not sure we was as I wrote to one person and so pleased it will get their full attention as it's been a year and no response - evey now and then I send a copy of my letter and the reply - it's a different mp now...

[dothawkes31]

I know, and they wonder why they need security guards!!!!!!!!!

[SnakeEyes]

LOL @ craft

[sara3]

SnakeEyes, I have no idea of how far you can walk. I don't control your claims, nor Dot's. I don't think we've even passed a message between us until tonight.

is that your only problem with me, because you seem to think you know me quite well?

[dothawkes31]

weeal if you don't claim there is a gap in your NI contributions, ..............mind you saying that what the hell good are they anyway lol
But if you don't know how long you are going to be on benefits you have to make a claim straight away, or so the advisor told me lol (she was a worse typer than me too!)

[caththecrazy]

sara if you were the government it might be better....

a woman gets things done...

seriously I can understand Dot's frustration - you pay for the priviledge of being told nothing useful or correct or you're abused.

I rang to put an advert in - fine - when the position was filled I rang to tell them and asked them to take it off their computer screens. A year later heythey still ring up and ask if there is a vacancy and they are sending someone along -I'd never advertise their again even though it is free

[weeal]

NI counts for sod all anyway, used to be National Health & Insurance, its not worth a jot.
All the years my dad paid, it never counted towards his bloomin funeral never mind anything else.

[NoMercy]

Yes, I wrote to my local MP after having my head fractured by a shoplifter. I applied for comp from the CICA, and was told that my injuries didn't warrant any compensation, even at the lowest tariff. My MP wrote back saying that he couldn't intervene, but could refer me to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. I still didn't get any compensation. But the drug addict who attacked me got all the counselling she wanted.

[sara3]

NoMercy, that's shocking.