Changes to JSB

Does the change to JSB with regards to the reduction from 12 to 9 months apply to new claims after 3rd April or to people who are currently claiming JSB? I have been on JSB for 5 months now ( since 1st July 2012) so when will this change kick in?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

The change goes live on April 3rd, 2013.

According to the Budget factsheet, it will apply to all JSB claims with the following exception:

Your claim duration won't be affected if, on April 3rd, you have been in receipt of JSB for 6 months (260+ contributions) or 3 months (less than 260 contributions).

You should be okay as you will have been in receipt of JSB for more than 6 months at live date.

So I will get 12 months JSB and then go to JSA in July 2013?

Based on the announcement in the budget factsheet, yes, that is what will happen.

Is there a time period for 260 contributions? Is assume that 260 is one years worth of contributions? Before I was let go at end of June I had worked an 11 month contract and before that another 11 months with a 6 month gap in between the 2 contracts... I was on JSB during the 6 month gap.

1 week = 1 cont

260 conts = 5 years

Would the 260 contributions be over your lifetime. A friend started full time employment after college in june 2005. He gave that up in February 2008 to travel. He returned in Feb 2009 but was unable to obtain work due to the downturn in the economy. However he signed on and eventually got work in February 2010 and has worked since. He is worried that his job may cease at any time. Prior to his original full time work he workrd summer holidays and occasional weekends from 1999. He would therefore easily have the 260 contributions but not in one lump due to his year travelling and unemployment thereafter. Any thoughts on this

The qualifying criteria only state that 260 paid contributions are required in order to be paid JB for 12 months (9 months from April 2013) - there isn't a specific timeline attached to them.

Thanks Gipimann. Thats good to hear