Advice on backdating JSA claims.

Henry1994

Good morning I hope this message finds everyone well, I am looking to pick the brains of you all.

I have been out of work for the last 4/5 months looking for work. I have been attending plenty of interviews just not getting any luck. I have email and paper records of the job applications I have been making throughout this period. For some stupid reason, I was too proud to claim JSA, and have now got myself into debt. I am living with my parents so rent-free, but they aren't the richest people so have my own bills to pay too. I am looking to now claim retrospectively for JSA and 3 months worth of payments, using the evidence of myself applying for jobs that I have kept. The question is, I see on the government website it says there must be a valid reason for backdating payments. Now I feel my reason is valid, I didn't want to claim off the state as I know services are overstretched and I assumed that with my qualifications I would find a job much sooner, but how would the benefits office view this reasoning? Would this qualify as reasonable enough to be able to backdate my claim providing I can show evidence of consistent efforts to find employment during the period of the claim?

Thanks in advance all

Henry

calcotti

I very much doubt this will be accepted as good reason. Examples of good reason on the Citizens Advice website are "for example a close relative died or you were given wrong advice by the Jobcentre".

Choosing not to claim is not a good reason for not claiming (even if it's understandable).

However there's no harm in asking.

Bear in mind that new style JSA is only payable for a maximum of six months and you need to have a complete NI record for the tax years 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 to qualify. Alternatively you can instead claim Universal Credit.

pebbles88

Hi op

Whatever you decide to do in regards to claiming a benefit ( in your case either UC or new style jsa if you know you meet the criteria for it ) do it quick & don't delay.

soxiez

Henry1994 said:

Good morning I hope this message finds everyone well, I am looking to pick the brains of you all.

I have been out of work for the last 4/5 months looking for work. I have been attending plenty of interviews just not getting any luck. I have email and paper records of the job applications I have been making throughout this period. For some stupid reason, I was too proud to claim JSA, and have now got myself into debt. I am living with my parents so rent-free, but they aren't the richest people so have my own bills to pay too. I am looking to now claim retrospectively for JSA and 3 months worth of payments, using the evidence of myself applying for jobs that I have kept. The question is, I see on the government website it says there must be a valid reason for backdating payments. Now I feel my reason is valid, I didn't want to claim off the state as I know services are overstretched and I assumed that with my qualifications I would find a job much sooner, but how would the benefits office view this reasoning? Would this qualify as reasonable enough to be able to backdate my claim providing I can show evidence of consistent efforts to find employment during the period of the claim?

Thanks in advance all

Henry

Hi Henry, did you end up asking to be backdated? What was the outcome of this if you don't mind me asking? Hope you've had better luck since.

poppy12345

soxiez said:

Henry1994 said:

Good morning I hope this message finds everyone well, I am looking to pick the brains of you all.

I have been out of work for the last 4/5 months looking for work. I have been attending plenty of interviews just not getting any luck. I have email and paper records of the job applications I have been making throughout this period. For some stupid reason, I was too proud to claim JSA, and have now got myself into debt. I am living with my parents so rent-free, but they aren't the richest people so have my own bills to pay too. I am looking to now claim retrospectively for JSA and 3 months worth of payments, using the evidence of myself applying for jobs that I have kept. The question is, I see on the government website it says there must be a valid reason for backdating payments. Now I feel my reason is valid, I didn't want to claim off the state as I know services are overstretched and I assumed that with my qualifications I would find a job much sooner, but how would the benefits office view this reasoning? Would this qualify as reasonable enough to be able to backdate my claim providing I can show evidence of consistent efforts to find employment during the period of the claim?

Thanks in advance all

Henry

Hi Henry, did you end up asking to be backdated? What was the outcome of this if you don't mind me asking? Hope you've had better luck since.

That person hasn't returned to the forum since they posted the question and is unlikely to return to answer your question. As has been advised in the thread, without good reason you're unlike to have it backdated.

BarryVonP

hi there applied for newstyle JSA in mid-March 2020 online as thought might be eligible but they have not yet replied and it is first week of June, almost 3 months

poppy12345

BarryVonP said:

hi there applied for newstyle JSA in mid-March 2020 online as thought might be eligible but they have not yet replied and it is first week of June, almost 3 months

Have you contacted DWP? If you haven't then you need to do this on Monday morning. Do be aware that waiting times will be long, if you can't get through at all. To be eligible you need to have paid the correct NI contributions in tax years April 2017 to March 2019.

Coz

poppy12345 said:

BarryVonP said:

hi there applied for newstyle JSA in mid-March 2020 online as thought might be eligible but they have not yet replied and it is first week of June, almost 3 months

Have you contacted DWP? If you haven't then you need to do this on Monday morning. Do be aware that waiting times will be long, if you can't get through at all. To be eligible you need to have paid the correct NI contributions in tax years April 2017 to March 2019.

Would DWP check that you have paid the correct NI contributions if you didn't know yourself?

Galloglass

Would DWP check that you have paid the correct NI contributions if you didn't know yourself?

You can check your own contributions online. You'll need a Government Gateway account to do so. You'll find the GGA a very useful tool so get one anyway, not just for this.

poppy12345

Coz said:

poppy12345 said:

BarryVonP said:

hi there applied for newstyle JSA in mid-March 2020 online as thought might be eligible but they have not yet replied and it is first week of June, almost 3 months

Have you contacted DWP? If you haven't then you need to do this on Monday morning. Do be aware that waiting times will be long, if you can't get through at all. To be eligible you need to have paid the correct NI contributions in tax years April 2017 to March 2019.

Would DWP check that you have paid the correct NI contributions if you didn't know yourself?

Yes they won't just accept your JSA claim without first checking your NI contributions are correct.