JSA periods of sickness

an4rew

I phoned my SS office to let them know that i was poorly and might not be able to sign this week.


They started looking back some 18 months to see if i had any periods of sickness in the past which i did and said i would have to sign off.


I have not been signing on for the entire last 18 months as i took about 4 temp jobs and this is the first time i have signed in 2011.


Are they right about this?

PS. my last job lasted 6 months so i did fill in the Bigger JSA form this time not a Rapid reclaim.

Thank you.

concerned43

From the CAB online advice:
If you are ill when you are getting Jobseeker's Allowance

If you are too ill to sign on or meet the other job seeking conditions while you are claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, you should let the Jobcentre Plus office know as soon as possible. You can be ill for up to two weeks and still get the benefit. Also, you can be ill up to two times in any period of six months without it affecting your entitlement. If you are ill for longer than two weeks or more than twice in any six months, you will no longer be able to get Jobseeker's Allowance. You will have to claim a benefit for sickness or disability instead. If you get better and become capable of meeting the job seeking conditions at a later date, you can make a new claim for Jobseeker's Allowance.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/benefits/benefits_for_people_looking_for_work.htm

Tell the job centre they are taking rubbish!

milfield

concerned43 wrote: »

From the CAB online advice:
If you are ill when you are getting Jobseeker's Allowance

If you are too ill to sign on or meet the other job seeking conditions while you are claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, you should let the Jobcentre Plus office know as soon as possible. You can be ill for up to two weeks and still get the benefit. Also, you can be ill up to two times in any period of six months without it affecting your entitlement. If you are ill for longer than two weeks or more than twice in any six months, you will no longer be able to get Jobseeker's Allowance. You will have to claim a benefit for sickness or disability instead. If you get better and become capable of meeting the job seeking conditions at a later date, you can make a new claim for Jobseeker's Allowance.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/benefits/benefits_for_people_looking_for_work.htm

Tell the job centre they are taking rubbish!

You are wrong I'm afraid, and so is the information on that link, so the Job Centre are not talking rubbish.

You are allowed 2 periods of sickness up to a maximum of 2 weeks on each occasion in a rolling year within a benefit claim period, not 6 months. You will complete a form called a JSA28 detailing your illness and the dates. A third period of sickness, or a period of illness in excess of 14 days will close your claim. You are entitlted to make a claim to ESA if this is appropriate, then when better make a claim back to JSA.

If you are ill and cannot attend the Job Centre appointment / signing you must advise us within 5 working days or your claim will be closed as 'Failed to Attend' or 'Failed to Sign'.

skintbint_2

can confirm milfields comments it is 12 months

cassieB57

...and it is not just the current claim that is looked at, it is during the current 'job seeking period' so if you have made several claims which link, ie with breaks less than 12 weeks between them, then they will look at all period of sickness in the current JSP over the last 12 months