Can a backdate a JSA claim?

[Usernameismyname01]

I was made redundant 6 weeks ago. I start a new job in a couple of weeks. Can I make a claim for JSA for that period?

As I am claiming redundancy from the government as company went in to administration, I will also be claiming payment in lieu of notice and just found out that any benefits due (whether applied for or not) will be deducted from this.

So can I back date a claim for 6 weeks even though I will be starting a new job soon?

You can ask for it to be backdated when you make a new claim. They will ask why you didn't claim earlier and look at the reasons why - the claim will go to a "decision maker". Most of the time requests for backdating are refused, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Reasons like: "i didn't know i could claim, I didn't get round to it, I didn't think I would need the money, I thought I would find a job sooner" aren't approved. Things like: "I was claiming ESA and I went for a reassessment and I found out today it was disallowed from (date of backdating) and the records of this are all on your system." Are more likely to be accepted.

Source: I used to work for the jobcentre

Hi

Does anyone know if I can backdate a JSA claim? Essentially, I left my job voluntarily in mid-July, was unemployed for three months, and started a new job on the 1st October.

I submitted a JSA claim on the 31st October, attended the in-person interview, and was informed that I couldn't backdate the claim. They stated that because I was currently employed, my backdated claim was invalid.