Quote:
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New claimants of ESA and JSA from 1 November 2010 must work for a minimum number of weeks to meet the first national insurance contribution conditions. The change does not affect the second contribution condition. Prior to November, a person could earn enough to reach the required total of 25 times the lower earnings limit in fewer than 25 weeks, because all earnings counted towards the total. Now only earnings up to the lower earnings limit in each week count, so claimants must have worked the full number of weeks, now increased from 25 to 26, in order to meet this condition. These 26 weeks need not be consecutive but must now fall within one of the two tax years (April to April), before the benefit year (January to December) in which the claim is made, or in which the limited capability for work or jobseeking period began.. The relaxation of this rule for carers and others by allowing any year to count remains the same. |
Does someone with 30 times lower earnings limit earned over 24 weeks in that "any year" qualify?
Is the new "worked the full 26 weeks" condition relaxed for that "any year" or does this part of the requirement remain for everyone?