I HAVE never before challenged the inaccuracies of your correspondents as I normally afford myself a wry smile and let them dwell in their ignorance, but feel I must reply to Mr G Smith (Letters, May 21) whose friend was denied the Jobseeker's Allowance because of his savings and blamed this on the Labour government.

The Jobseeker's Allowance and its attached savings regulations came into being on October 7, 1996, as a result of legislation drawn up in the period prior to that date. And we all know, apart, obviously, from Mr Smith, which party was in power at that time, don't we?

He also states that his friend was not entitled to 'any' financial assistance - which I cannot understand as the contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance is payable for a limited period irrespective of savings based on National Insurance contributions paid and I can only assume his friend must have paid contributions in order to receive his redundancy pay.

The obvious conclusion to be drawn is that his friend must have also applied for income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, which is based on savings, to top up his contribution-based allowance in spite of his nest egg.

Perhaps Mr Smith should get the facts right before ridiculing himself in future and maybe look up the definition of the word 'any.'

R JOHNSON, Rutland Street, Accrington.

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