Pension Issues

This had been kicked off by a former SCOTS DG SNCO and ex colleague of mine. An issue which has been ignored over the past decades, but a worthwhile issue nevertheless. Your signatures would be welcome and if you could copy it onto your respective Regt'l or Corps sites, it would be appreciated.

https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%253A%252F%252Fpetitions.number10.gov.uk%252Fexarmyjobseekers%252F&h=7e5ff542aa3f2a7f3e68230cb45caa14&ref=mf

Direct Link

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/exarmyjobseekers/

A poorly presented petition as this does not just affect ex-services but anyone with an occupational pension. I have 2, and I am hammered in tax. My wife has an NHS pension which is affected in the same way.

Job Seekers Allowance and/or Income Support are designed as safety nets, and if you recieve more than the minimum needed to live on, you do not get it.

When you retire from the Army with or without a service pension you get Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance for 26 weeks, only then is your pension taken into account.

Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Jobcentre Plus can pay this for up to 182 days. It’s based on how much National Insurance you have paid in the last two tax years. Generally, self-employed contributions will not help you qualify for contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
This is based on your income and savings. You may get this if you have not paid enough National Insurance contributions (NICs) (or you've only paid contributions for self-employment) and you're on a low income.


Never mind having served 22 years, it can come and bite you on the arse age 60 when you recieve a 'Preserved Pension' for less than 22 years service.

Some reasonable points there, but from my experience which would appear to be the same as that of the originator and quite a few others, I wasn't entitled to job seekers allowance in any shape or form or for any period of time, contribution based or not. NO idea where your 26 week entitlement comes from mate. They made it very clear to me when I went to the No Job Centre 5 years ago, that as I had an occupational pension, I was entitled to zilch, irrespective of any payments I made over the previous 22 years. When the subject of my war pension came up, they went out of their way to find out what that would deny me, even though I informed them that a war pension should not be taken into consideration.

DirectGov site @

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Employedorlookingforwork/DG_10018757

Seems I was partly wrong however, as I asked a friend of mine about this, and he says it depends on how much occupational pension you get:
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_money/benefits/benefits_for_people_looking_for_work.htm

Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance is not affected by any savings you have. However, if you have part-time earnings or an occupational or personal pension, this may affect how much contribution-based JSA you get. For example, the amount of contribution-based JSA that you get is cut pound for pound for any occupational pension that is over £50 a week. If you earn too much, you will not get contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance at all.

Since I started work during my pre-release course I never had to worry about it! and which explains why the few ex-servicemen who needed help later with smaller pensions still got some?

Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance is currently £64.30 a week.

So if you recieve more than £115 a week you get nothing!