Job Seekers Allowance - letter to my MP

[Athene V30]

I have been refused the £71 a week job seekers allowance! I have been a tax payer since I started working in 1983 and with the exception of 6 months in 1994 and maybe 8 months at end of 2010 / 2011 I have worked and paid tax / NI etc. It is not that I need £71 a week but it would be £71 less I spend from my retirement pot!! I am somewhat annoyed!

Dear Mr Bacon

I am trying to make some sense of why my claim for Jobseekers allowance has been declined. The reason I have been given is that I have not paid enough Class 1 NI Contributions during the tax years ending April 2011 and April 2012. I am 50. I have worked from Sept 1983 with a period of unemployment in 1994 and again at end of 2010 into 2011. Why are my contributions over the preceeding 28 years not considered?

I am not a scrounger. For the last 18 months I have been working in Yorkshire, and weekly commuting. Unlike MPs I didnt get an expense account, allowance for a second home etc, I had to pay to rent a flat out of my salary. Over the years most of my employment has resulted in paying some tax at 40%. I have tried to save for the future and now I am expected to live off my savings at a time when I should be trying to build my retirement fund.

I have always voted Conservative although at the last election I was confused to see any difference in the policies or more to the point the honesty of politicians.

This is lunacy. Policy is out of touch with reality.

Regards

 

[MoodySabre]

Hope you feel better for getting that off your chest. Rules is rules so don't hold your breath.

Good luck with the job search Peter.

 

[Athene V30]

Hope you feel better for getting that off your chest.

Been decorating for 2 days, too cold to do anything on Karouise - maybe a good shout at the TV when England play tomorrow will help!

 

[viking2]

Dear Mr Bacon

... Unlike MPs I didnt get an expense account, allowance for a second home etc, I had to pay to rent a flat out of my salary ...

I have always voted Conservative although at the last election I was confused to see any difference in the policies or more to the point the honesty of politicians.

This is lunacy. Policy is out of touch with reality.

Regards

Brilliant! Really sorry to hear of your work situation, and the bureacracy that's given rise to the decision regarding JSA. But, loved the rant! made me laugh out loud ...

Hope someone somewhere sees sense, and wish you the best.

 

[Ianqv]

Hi Karouise,

Our inept gov can't keep giving money out "willy nilly" to all that have paid in to "the pot" for years and years... otherwise they won't be able to house all the immigrants!! let alone those who have never worked a day in their life!!!!!!

Don't get me started!!! lol

Ian

 

[Dazedkipper]

Are you actually going to send it? It would be interesting to see what weezely excuse for a reply you get.

 

[Athene V30]

Was sent last Friday. Only had the standard holding reply so far.

They may get an earfull when I go to sign on next time!! As far as I can see if I am not getting any JSA dont see the point of signing on other than by signing off will make the jobless figure look 1 smaller!!

 

[sailorman]

if you sign on your NI is credited / stamped

Was sent last Friday. Only had the standard holding reply so far.

They may get an earfull when I go to sign on next time!! As far as I can see if I am not getting any JSA dont see the point of signing on other than by signing off will make the jobless figure look 1 smaller!!

 

[NUTMEG]

Don't hold your breath waiting for a sensible reply. I emailed my MP (Pickles Con) and had a holding reply. Then nothing for several weeks, so I chased him up. Got reply from his secretary saying 'he was looking into it'. Now two months down the line and Eric has still not been in touch. So much for 'representing the interests of his constituents'.

Good luck on the job front mate. Not easy out there at the moment.

 

[Athene V30]

Good luck on the job front mate. Not easy out there at the moment.

Agree not easy, but as always the ECF help out - have my CV with a few off here who are putting it about - in a nice way of course!!

 

[Slow_boat]

Swmbo got a phone call about a year ago warning her that she would loose all allowances. like the OP she has paid in all her life but I suppose the present crowd have to show they are getting the jobless figures down and save on the budget so their mates can get away without paying tax and this is how they do it. Swmbo has no job, but is no longer jobless because she gets no benifits.
Sheer madness but thats political dogma for you.

And does anyone really believe that 'their' MP is really going to represent their constituents?
It just ain't going to happen under the present system of so-called 'democracy'

PS. 23 working days to gold plated pension; ie two of us living on half my salary. Let's face it, there ain't that many jobs for an un qualified 55yr old!

 

[Bru]

I know this tune!

Having been self employed for a goodly few years in the past, when I went to sign on latterly before landing the fantastic stimulating satisfying position I now hold with a major international company (really awful night at work, don't ask!) I was blithely informed that I hadn't paid enough of the right sort of NI contributions to qualify for J.S.A.

However, she sweetly intoned, you can apply for Income Support instead.

Oh but Income Support is means tested and your spouse earns too much money so you can't have any

Impressed was I? Not very.

 

[Athene V30]

Had a letter today........we have looked at your claim following a recent change - not sure what the change is other than me writing to MP - from 6 Feb your JSA will be £71 a week and from 12 April JSA will be £71.70 a week.

To be honest I am more annoyed now that
a) they got it wrong in the first place
b) benefits are going up in April - how many decent hard working folk (not that we unemployed scum are not decent and want to be hard working) havent had a pay rise in years. I know it is only 1% but what has anyone done to "earn" it! The great bunch I had working for me until Christmas hadnt had a pay rise in 4 years.

Waiting for a reply from MP now to say what a good chap he is!

Might donate some to that charity - is it the Seafarers society or Broadside or something like that - based in Southwold I believe.