Job seekers allowance

[dyslexiauntied]

Is this affected in anyway by any redundancy or pension payments received when made redundant?

[factor-fiction]

If you mean Contribution Based JSA then the answer is No: the benefit is not means tested and so is not affected by any savings you have arising from redundancy payments.
However there were conflicting views on here last time someone asked about whether receipt of income from a pension can lead to a reduction/removal of the weekly JSA.
Have a look on here http://www.direct.gov...ngforwork/DG_10018757

[4getmenot]

and you are only entitled to it for so long

[dyslexiauntied]

Factor 30 many thanks, but have already looked there, and all is not clear!!

[factor-fiction]

I've just found this:
http://www.hounslow.g.../jobseekers_allowance

It says: "If you have a pension payment from an occupational or personal pension scheme any amount over £50 a week will be deducted from your contribution-based JSA entitlement and the whole amount would be offset against income-based JSA"

[dyslexiauntied]

4getme Thanks I knew that bit, but have been informed this morning that someone I know has been told be aware that there may be a delay in payment if in receipt of a pension!! And as is usual the gov web site does not give details!!

[4getmenot]

so annoying, I worked 14 years in same company and they tell me I am entitled to JSA till November!!

[dyslexiauntied]

Factor 30 thanks indeed

[dyslexiauntied]

Factor30 The person who has warned me about this, is to be made redundant this Friday, and that person does indeed fall within the pension restrictions that were contained within your link.
I myself am redundant 4 weeks on Friday and i also will, suffer!!
It just gets better and better.

[factor-fiction]

Yes, Contribution Based JSA (CBJSA) is not great. I worked for 30 years, paying over £100,000 in NI payments, and was told I could get £60 a week CBJSA for 26 weeks which works out at just over £1500- a tiny fraction of what I'd paid in NI.
But I suppose we should be grateful that there is something that isn't means tested.

I agree that the Direct Gov site is not clear. It just says your JSA may be affected by any occupational/private pension you receive, but doesn't say whether this applies to Income-based JSA, contribution-based JSA, or both.

The info on the link from Hounslow confirms what the Job centre Plus staff told me. Pensions above a certain amount affect entitlement to both types of JSA. So don't draw your pension until you've exhausted your entitlement to CBJSA.

Another gripe about CBJSA- it gives no entitlement to free prescriptions or free dental treatment. When I was on JSA I had to pay for my regular prescription medicines but I noticed every other customer at the pharmacy seemed to get theirs free.

[dyslexiauntied]

Factor30, my problem is a pension from a previous employer is already being paid, and I am now being Compulsory Early retired as I was formerly a civil servant but tuped out and now being got rid of. You cant win!!