Questions about Job Seekers Allowance

TheDaffyDuck

Hi there

I was made redundant in 2010 and was unemployed for just over three months. During this time I never claimed and job seekers allowance or other benefits.

I was recently told that I could make a back-claim for the job seekers allowance I did not claim. Is there any truth to this? If so what would be the process, would I just contact the Job Center? Would it be a lengthly process?

Thanks in advance

TheDaffyDuck

Sorry I see I may have posted this in the wrong section!

scooby088

Are you unemployed now??? If you are employed then it is too late to apply for it as it is for jobseekers not those who are employed.

DCFC79

If your still out of work Im not entirely sure you can make a claim for a period so far back but im sure someone will know a definite answer. When i was on jsa last year i tried to make a back claim for a period of a few days and it was rejected(i was made redundant on the friday and i made the claim on the monday)

caz246

You will not be able to make a backdated claim now.

Sammyj0e

There used to be a thing called a wholly retrospective claim, not sure if they still exsist. Or if they would go back as far as 2010 for a claimant.
They were very rare back in the days I worked for JCP but they did happen.
Call the claim line number and tell them you would like to make a wholly retrospective claim. You can only ask and see what happens

DCFC79

I cant see them paying out for a period of being unemployed in 2010, they're trying to cut costs not give money out willy nilly.

Sammyj0e

DCFC79 wrote: »

I cant see them paying out for a period of being unemployed in 2010, they're trying to cut costs not give money out willy nilly.

It's not giving it out will nilly if you're entitled to it.
Like I said they were rare but did happen, nothing wrong with asking.

DCFC79

Sammyj0e wrote: »

It's not giving it out will nilly if you're entitled to it.
Like I said they were rare but did happen, nothing wrong with asking.

Compared to before the recession i bet they payed out for claims without checking they were legit etc whereas now they're more strict due to the financial climate so yes they were paid out willy nilly before but not now. No harm in asking though.

mattw7

No chance of getting this back dated, maybe a 2 week period maximum but even then I'd doubt it. To get JSA you have to have a JSA agreement that you have been carrying out in order to receive JSA.

They would just say well you should have made a claim back then. Otherwise they'd open up a can of worms if they let everyone claim for periods of unemployment whereby the claimant didn't apply for JSA. Just how far back do you think people could be applying for?
Also the bit above about having a JSA agreement to receive JSA, can you honestly say what jobs you applied for during this period with proof of outcome?

Sammyj0e

mattw7 wrote: »

No chance of getting this back dated, maybe a 2 week period maximum but even then I'd doubt it. To get JSA you have to have a JSA agreement that you have been carrying out in order to receive JSA.

They would just say well you should have made a claim back then. Otherwise they'd open up a can of worms if they let everyone claim for periods of unemployment whereby the claimant didn't apply for JSA. Just how far back do you think people could be applying for?
Also the bit above about having a JSA agreement to receive JSA, can you honestly say what jobs you applied for during this period with proof of outcome?

Are you a DM for JCP?