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.

[Eeyore2009]

I have been waiting since Arpil 3rd for a payment, signing on tomorrow and going to complain,

i also have an appeal about the jsa 5.

[installspark]

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)

 

Backdating of JSA is possible and is usually allowed in certain circumstances only, the list is not exhaustive:

 

 

• Administrative error - backdated for 1 month
  
• Incorrect advice from JCP/DWP - backdated up to 3 months
  
• Difficulty in communicating - backdated up to 3 months
  
• Disability - backdated up to 3 months
  

You can appeal against the decision to disallow your backdating, however as you have already stated you made the decision not to claim JSA as soon as you became unemployed, it is unlikely that the decision would be superseded or an appeal tribunal upheld in your favour.

 

In terms of the amount paid to you, is this a JSA payment, crisis loan or interim payment?

 

JSA is paid fortnightly in arrears according to your benefit cycle to the date of signing. The amount you will get on your first payment will depend upon the date your claim was made, and your signing date. If the payment was for JSA then it would appear that you made your claim approx 5 days before your normal signing date. You will receive a fulll fortnight's monies on your next payday after signing.

 

An interim payment is made on grounds of hardship and is 90% of the normal rate. This will be taken into account when you receive your first payment of benefit, and the payment reduced accordingly.

 

A crisis loan is made where there is immeadiate hardship. The amount paid is to cover essentials only and is decided by a decision maker dependant upon your circumstances. This is recovered at a set weekly rate from your benefit payments.

[andydd]

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

 

Hi..Im afraid there is not too much to add except the obvious point that you now know that you should of signed on straight away, its unfortunate that perhaps many people dont sign on straight away for some reason, you are perfectly entitled to any money you may recieve be it income based or contribution based JSA, even if you arnt that despereate for the actual weekly money they can help you find a job (rather limited admittely) but the most important point is that it will allow you various other services for free or at a reduced cost, council tax, rent, prescriptions, legal aid, court costs, etc...

 

I too have just been made redundant an I filled in the online JSA application straight away !

 

Andy

[samsmoot]

Always appeal if there's the slightest chance of winning. I believe that around half of all appeals against DWP decisions are successful.