Backdated JSA

miamoo

Hiya, I have a question please.
Son starts his proper job on 5th September. He took a temp job on 22nd July and signed off JSA. First 3 weeks were fine, but then 4th week they sent him home, said no work available. come back next week, he went the following week same, come back next week definitely be work next week. This is the 3rd week now and he can't afford the travelling expenses to get back and forth with no money.

He's just signed back on JSA for the 2 weeks until he starts work, but can he get it backdated to the 8th August which is when he worked last. Or can he only claim from today.

TELLIT01

He can request backdating, but it's not generally permitted. He can only ask, and explain the reason for the delay in applying.

miamoo

Thanks, I thought it was difficult to get JSA backdated. I don't know what the actual rules are and even after spending a few hours googling, I still don't know.
He has requested it backdated but I don't hold out much hope.

miamoo

Just incase anyone else finds this useful. They have allowed him to have JSA backdated to the 9th August, I'm not sure why the 9th and not the 8th (as the last day he worked was the 7th) but he didn't argue over 1 day.

missapril75

miamoo wrote: »

Just incase anyone else finds this useful. They have allowed him to have JSA backdated to the 9th August, I'm not sure why the 9th and not the 8th (as the last day he worked was the 7th) but he didn't argue over 1 day.

Lucky him. :beer:

Perhaps they read your OP which said the 8th was his last day.

TELLIT01

miamoo wrote: »

I don't know what the actual rules are and even after spending a few hours googling, I still don't know.

I'm not sure anybody knows the actual rules around backdating. Even on Income Support, which does theoretically allow backdating, different people would work in different ways. Some more easy going about allowing it than others.
I'm not saying that's the way it should be, just stating my experience. My personal view was that, as most appeals against refusing backdating were eventually allowed, it was easier just to cut out the middle man and allow it from the start. Trying to calculate the amount of back dated payment due following a successful appeal was a total pain in the ****, and took far longer than simply allowing it in the first place.
I am aware that the basic assumption on JSA is that the claimant is fit and therefore should make the claim immediately.

miamoo

Sorry I didn't explain properly in my OP, he last worked on the 7th August. So he was unemployed on the 8th August. They said they will pay him from the 9th.

Just another update. He had his appointment at the job centre, and he completed a list of the job search activities that he fulfilled since he finished work,and they didn't need them, they said he didn't need to look for work and he hasn't got to go back, he can just wait for his job to start on the 5th Sept, and they will still pay him for this month! It makes sense as he only has just over 1 week until his job starts, but you never know with the job centre if they will do the sensible thing.