Jsa backdated claim disallowed

[Miss-Coordinated]

I have been searching for a job for 4 months with no luck, I was living off what was left of my previous earnings and always thought that I would find a job.

I ran out of money and had to sign on, they asked if I wanted to back date my claim and I said yes and even provided evidence of my job search.
I only backdated one month as I was worried about going back to far and it being disallowed.

It has now been over two weeks since I first applied (and one week since my first sign on date) and I had not heard anything so I called my advisor who then told me to call a main number to ask for a payment.

They agreed to make payment of £51 which made little sense to me as I thought it was £60 per week (I am over 25) this will not clear into my account until next wednesday

my main problem is that they have disallowed my backdated claim on the griounds that I "didn't not meet the requirements" i'm so upset, I really need the money and I can't see why they would disallow it when I even provided evidence of my job search.

What can I do? Can I appeal? How do they make their decisions?
I delberately didn't sign on straight away as I thought I would find a job quicker and so I lived off what little money I had until I had literally none left (which in hindsight I now know was a mistake)

Any advice much appreciated

[borisbeaver]

It's as rare as hens teeth to get JSA backdated. The circumstances required for back dating are almost impossible to meet.

You should have signed on straight away. You would have had assistance with council tax, rent (if you rent a property), free prescriptions.

You would also have had help searching for a job as they get new vacancies daily.

[Miss-Coordinated]

Thanks, I've done some googling now and realised this.
I thought it was a standard entitlement

They haven't really helped look for work, I've been looking myself, I'm an events co-ordinator and it's quite hard to find suitable work- despite my 6 years of experience a lot of jobs statethat you must have a degree
I asked in my signing session about help searching and any courses/training opportunities that I could use and the response was "we don't really do that, you just have to keep checking the (job search) machines"

I want a job! I hate being poor.
Really thought there would be more help out there.

[Maciu]

Hi,
Just to ask,
was it income-JSA or contributions one?
Take care

[Weird Al Yankovic]

Hello

In what circumstances did your last job end? Were you an employee?

On the two seperate occasions I have signed on I had to wait about 6 weeks each time before receiving any benefit, so if you receive any within 3 weeks or so then you will have done better than me!

I was entitled to claim backdated JSA too but an advisor told me they make you jump through hoops so I didn't bother. It's the same with Council Tax Benefit backdating too.

In reality it is only those who have been claiming benefit for 2 or more years that get any real help with courses etc, at least that is the system in Wales.

The only 'help' I have received in 10 months is agreeing to attend a classroom 2 hours a week with an outsourced agency to learn to write a letter, a CV etc, despite learning this whilst at school.

Good luck.