How to claim


You cannot get benefit for any day before you claim other than in exceptional circumstances, for example, if you have been given wrong advice. However, you cannot simply argue that you didn’t know about the benefit. 


There are different ways of claiming different types of JSA. 


• online — contributions;


• over the phone — new-style JSA.


Online claims can be made at: www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/how-to-claim. 


You can make a “rapid reclaim” if you’ve had JSA in the last 26 weeks.


Partners have to decide which of them will receive the JSA. If one of the partners breaks JSA rules, the other will receive a JSA payment at the single rate only.


You can ask for any decision about your JSA to be reviewed at any time, and you can appeal the decision about your JSA if you are unhappy with it. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) appeal form can be accessed from the website at: www.gov.uk/social-security-child-support-tribunal (see also page 29 on DWP appeals).