JSA Back Payment

Locus

I have been out of work for 2 months, I have not been claiming JSA but have decided to apply. I should have claimed as soon as I stopped working and have never claimed before. How can I make sure I will get a back payment for the last 2 months?

cifpower

You will only get a backpayment if there are valid reasons for not claiming. As you just didn't because you decided not to, it is not a valid reason.

Locus

cifpower wrote:

You will only get a backpayment if there are valid reasons for not claiming. As you just didn't because you decided not to, it is not a valid reason.

What are valid reasons?

hjb123

This is from the https://www.adviceguide.org.uk which is the Citizens Advice Bureau website:

You may be able to get some Jobseeker's Allowance for a period before you make your claim if you could have claimed earlier and have reasons for claiming late. These have to be particular reasons laid down in law which are accepted by the benefits office, for example, you have language difficulties, or you were given wrong advice which made you think you wouldn’t get any money. Getting benefit for a period before you claim is called ‘backdating’. You will not get any backdated benefit just because you did not know that you could make a claim.



If you do have one of the accepted reasons for backdating your claim , your Jobseeker's Allowance may be backdated by up to a maximum of one or three months depending on the reason you failed to claim earlier. You will have to show that you met the entitlement conditions throughout the period of backdating, including being available for and actively seeking work. You should explain that you are claiming backdated Jobseeker's Allowance, and why, on your claim form.

hjb123

Locus wrote:

What are valid reasons?

Probably illness will be the main one - though this would probably have to be backed up by your doctor.

Unless the reasons are very good then I doubt that they will backdate it. You would have to prove that during the time that you wanted the benefit backdating that you were actively looking for work and also at the same time a valid reason why you didnt claim sooner.

happyevs

Jobseeker's Allowance is paid to a person who claims for it under the condition they are Fit and able to Actively Seek Employment,As you have not claimed till now suggests That you were not Looking for Employment.All the same it wouldnt do any harm to check out your local Jobcentre Plus.