Job seekers

curtis122

So the time has come for the first time in my life I am going to have to claim a benefit. A job I got offered fell through recently and now I need something. I am not eligible for anything so JSA is all I can get. Is anyone getting this already, is it straight forward? Is there any delay in getting the first payment as I read some people were still waiting after a month, if this is the case will you get it back dated and from when you apllied and get a lump sum for the missed weeks while you have had to wait?

[Deleted User]

Yes there are waiting tones. 

It’s paid from the date application is submitted. 

JSA is paid 2 weeks in arrears. 

SXX

curtis122 said:

So the time has come for the first time in my life I am going to have to claim a benefit. A job I got offered fell through recently and now I need something. I am not eligible for anything so JSA is all I can get. Is anyone getting this already, is it straight forward? Is there any delay in getting the first payment as I read some people were still waiting after a month, if this is the case will you get it back dated and from when you apllied and get a lump sum for the missed weeks while you have had to wait?

I applied via this link. (And yes for me it was the first time I have applied for a benefit).     Received a text message as confirmation.  Then about 3 or 4 weeks later some of the JSA was paid into my bank account and then a few days later the paper work followed by post.  It should of course have been the other way round!!  The first week I believe is not paid.  And then every couple of weeks you'll receive some paperwork via post which you sign and complete as necessary. It is all straight forward.  The JSA is paid fortnightly into your bank account.                                                 
I had no idea that JSA is counted as earnings and is potentially taxed if you have used up your personal tax allowance.  This is not advertised anywhere.  I only found out when I phoned HMRC because there was a muddle re my tax code!  So do bear that in mind.                                                                                                                                                      https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/apply-new-style-jsa

poppy12345

curtis122 said:

So the time has come for the first time in my life I am going to have to claim a benefit. A job I got offered fell through recently and now I need something. I am not eligible for anything so JSA is all I can get. Is anyone getting this already, is it straight forward? Is there any delay in getting the first payment as I read some people were still waiting after a month, if this is the case will you get it back dated and from when you apllied and get a lump sum for the missed weeks while you have had to wait?

To be eligible for New style JSA you will need to have paid the relivant NI contributions in tax year April 2017 to April 2019. For over 25's it pays £74.35 per week for 26 weeks. A claim can take 3-5 weeks.

p00hsticks

SXX said:

 And then every couple of weeks you'll receive some paperwork via post which you sign and complete as necessary. It is all straight forward.  The JSA is paid fortnightly into your bank account.                                                

This may have been the case during lockdown, but I suspect that now now you may be expected to physically attend a jobcentre to sign on fortnightly.

epm-84

p00hsticks said:

SXX said:

 And then every couple of weeks you'll receive some paperwork via post which you sign and complete as necessary. It is all straight forward.  The JSA is paid fortnightly into your bank account.                                                

This may have been the case during lockdown, but I suspect that now now you may be expected to physically attend a jobcentre to sign on fortnightly.

According to media reports jobcentres reopened in July and DWP are once again permitted to sanction those who are claiming benefits but miss appointments/don't spend enough time looking for work/don't attend interviews etc.

I think it's weekly for at least the first 13 weeks of a new claim but it's possible they may relax that if they are short staffed in relation to the number of claimants. 

[Deleted User]

epm-84 said:

p00hsticks said:

SXX said:

 And then every couple of weeks you'll receive some paperwork via post which you sign and complete as necessary. It is all straight forward.  The JSA is paid fortnightly into your bank account.                                                

This may have been the case during lockdown, but I suspect that now now you may be expected to physically attend a jobcentre to sign on fortnightly.

According to media reports jobcentres reopened in July and DWP are once again permitted to sanction those who are claiming benefits but miss appointments/don't spend enough time looking for work/don't attend interviews etc.

I think it's weekly for at least the first 13 weeks of a new claim but it's possible they may relax that if they are short staffed in relation to the number of claimants. 

There open for urgent queries only. 

Sanctions are back in place but phone calls are still been completed fortnightly in place on face to face appointments.