Getting paid JSA whilst claiming backdated payments?

Mark6701

I was recently mis-directed into starting a new claim for ESA whilst on JSA, even though I had a Fit note and could have stayed on JSA. After five weeks I heard nothing so decided to start reclaiming Job seekers Alowance as I've basically not been paid for that period.

I started my new claim for JSA on Wednesday with the interview this coming Monday at the job centre. As I'll hand in a form for claiming backdated JSA payments (due to the mis-direction) I'd like to know whether I'll get paid job seekers allowance straight away after I next sign on or will they make a decision first on whether I'm entitled to receive money for the last few weeks?

pmlindyloo

Please can you give us the background to this?

Did you actually make a new claim for ESA? Why was this? Were you ever refused ESA?

Answers may depend of what has happened before.

Mark6701

Yes, I failed a WCA in Nov 2016.

I've got another Fit note but as yet haven't heard anything more after five weeks of making another claim for ESA.
Having decided not to see if it'll succeed or fail (five weeks without any benefits is a long time without money) I've made a new claim for JSA and now had my new ESA claim closed.

I didn't realise I could have stayed on JSA with the Fit note and was mis-directed to go onto ESA and as a result have put in a claim for backdated benefits.

All I'm wondering is that when I go back on JSA after completing my claim on Monday whether they will or won't process any future JSA payments until any backdated claim is sorted or if that claim is treated separately in the fullness of time?

Basically, I don't want to sign on every two weeks, but not receive any money until the decision maker has decided whether my payments can be backdated.

If it's too much hassle, when I complete my claim at the job centre on Monday I might just tell them not to pursue the backdated money for the last five weeks if it means not getting any JSA for the foreseeable future.

I.e. Do they pay you when you sign on, regardless of whether you've made a claim to have your benefits started earlier or does that need to be sorted before any money at all is paid?

pmlindyloo

Mark6701 wrote: »

Yes, I failed a WCA in Nov 2016.

I've got another Fit note but as yet haven't heard anything more after five weeks of making another claim for ESA.
Having decided not to see if it'll succeed or fail (five weeks without any benefits is a long time without money) I've made a new claim for JSA and now had my new ESA claim closed.

I didn't realise I could have stayed on JSA with the Fit note and was mis-directed to go onto ESA and as a result have put in a claim for backdated benefits.

All I'm wondering is that when I go back on JSA after completing my claim on Monday whether they will or won't process any future JSA payments until any backdated claim is sorted or if that claim is treated separately in the fullness of time?

Basically, I don't want to sign on every two weeks, but not receive any money until the decision maker has decided whether my payments can be backdated.

If it's too much hassle, when I complete my claim at the job centre on Monday I might just tell them not to pursue the backdated money for the last five weeks if it means not getting any JSA for the foreseeable future.

I.e. Do they pay you when you sign on, regardless of whether you've made a claim to have your benefits started earlier or does that need to be sorted before any money at all is paid?

Thanks for the background information.

I am assuming that you applied again for ESA and did not know that you cannot do this unless you had a new condition or your condition had significantly worsened?

Did you contact ESA to find out why you didn't hear about whether your application had been accepted/refused?

I think your question about backdating the JSA is one you are going to have to ask your work coach. Logic tells me that the backdating of the JSA will go to a decision maker and this will be a separate payment if the backdating is allowed and your JSA will be go into payment regardless of the decision.

But, do ask the job coach.