Appealing the Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) weekly rate

Bocking14

Registered User
Messages
36
Unlike Jobseeker's Benefit, JBSE is based upon previous average weekly earnings from the second-last complete tax year.

This means a claim made in 2021 is based upon 2019 average weekly earnings.

If earnings were higher in the 2020 tax year, is it possible to appeal/request the reduced weekly payment with a view to the payment being increased?

If the 2020 increased earnings included some PUP, would this mean an appeal would be disallowed?

Thanks in advance for any experience or knowledge
 
You are entitled to appeal and/or request an internal review of any decision made by a SW Deciding Officer. You are required to state the grounds for your appeal and provide any new facts or further evidence in support of the appeal that you may have.

However, in order to win an appeal, you'd normally have to satisfy the Appeals Commissioner that the original decision made was incorrect.

In your case, as your appeal seems to based only on the definition of the Governing Contribution Year* in the JBSE scheme, it's hard to see how it could succeed, given that the decision appears to be in compliance with the terms of the scheme.

* Definition of Governing Contribution Year
The Governing Contribution Year (GCY) is the last complete contribution year before the benefit year in which the claim was made. A benefit year begins on the first Monday in January in any calendar year and ends with the Sunday immediately before the first Monday in the next calendar year, e.g. for claims made in 2021 the GCY is 2019.
 
* Definition of Governing Contribution Year
The Governing Contribution Year (GCY) is the last complete contribution year before the benefit year in which the claim was made. A benefit year begins on the first Monday in January in any calendar year and ends with the Sunday immediately before the first Monday in the next calendar year, e.g. for claims made in 2021 the GCY is 2019.
I wonder if that also applies to the average weekly earnings year and if it laid down as a rule.
 
One other thing to point out is that you have only 21 days to send in an appeal after you start to receive the payment - and that cut off rule is rigidly enforced.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top