state benefits

[smurf21]

After being either employed or self employed all my working life and paying all my taxes and national insurance as set out by the government of this supposedly great nation at the age of 44 years i found myself for the first time ever having to claim JSA only to be told to basicly naf off because i havent paid enough NI ive been paying it every week for 27 years HOW CAN THAT NOT BE ENOUGH to claim a poxy �60.50 a week can someone please explain this to me.

[flogginmelog]

You shouldn't have got a job in the first place , BIG mistake.

[Buenchico]

The key to your answer might be in your reference to self-employment. Class 2 & Class 4 NI contributions don't count towards contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance (which is not means-tested). Only Class 1 (employees') NI contributions (which, of course, are much higher) count.

If you're not entitled to contribution-based JSA you can then be considered for income-based JSA. However that's means-tested. If you've got savings of over �6000 your JSA is reduced. If you've got savings of over �16000 you'll get nothing. Similarly, if you've got a partner who is working 24 hours per week (or over) you'll be ineligible. (If your partner works for less than 24 hours per week your entitlement might be reduced):
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefit s/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Employedor lookingforwork/DG_10018757

Chris

[smurf21]

your right but it still sucks if the Ni isnt enough then the govt shouldnt set the contributions so low dont you think may aswell have not bothered paying anthing. its so annoying

[bednobs]

but national insurance pays for other stuff, not just jsa.
Look at it this way - when you were self employed you "enjoyed" the benefit of paying much less national insurance than someone who is earning thesame amount, but employed, so therefore they could justt as easily say "i paid more than you, but we are geting the same aount in benefit, how is that fair?"

unfortunately with benefits, there will always be a cut off point that means some people qualify and some don't As chris has said, if you have few savings you can get means tested jsa instead. If you have savings (or your household income is over a certain amount) you will be expected to live off this till it depletes

[gossipgirl]

the benefits system is a load of ****!!!!!! the hard working, honest people who have paid contributions throughout their working life get nothing when they need the help, and yet the lazy ******* who never intend of getting a job get all the handouts they want. People are truly better off not working

[spitza]

You have to be on drugs to get handouts or a total waste of space. I worked all hours to support my family, which I was pleased to do, but when I asked for a little help a few years ago was turned down I felt humiliated and saw others there who have never worked or have no intentions of working thought I should have done the same.

[sandmaster]

Can someone explain to me how some people can go through life without ever having a job? Our High Street (full of social housing) has drunks out all day every day (ages from late teens to old age) drinking from early morning. Mention work to them and they would collapse laughing.

[smurf21]

dont get me wrong i know how the system works but just feel its wrong, when i was self employed yes i payed less NI BUT I DIDNT CHOSE THE AMOUNT TO PAY ITS THE NI SET BY THE GOVT the same govt who now tell me i havent paid enough if the contribution is of no use then why set the f****** thing so low, bloody immigrants dont pay a bean and get state handouts left right and center .maybe when all my wifes wages are spent and the house is reposesed then maybe instead of finding �60.per week to help us out the can pay us both and find us somewhere to live and pay our council tax coz that makes much more economic sense dont you think?