JSA linked periods and arrears

Hello everyone,

Does anyone know the answer to this or of any cases that might give me guidance?

What is the DWP’s standard response to paying arrears for a period between linked periods for JSA?

Client has two JSA periods seperated by less than 12 weeks. DWP have accepted that the JSA periods are linked, but say no arrears are payable for the period inbetween as the client did not meet the Labour conditions in that period.

Regulations seem to say that two linked periods mean a claimant should be treated as meeting the Labour conditions and treated as a jobseeker for the period inbetween, but can’t find anything saying arrears should or shouldn’t be paid for that period.

I would think that if you are treated as a jobseeker, treated as meeting the conditions for JSA and had no other income for that period, then you should be paid JSA for that period.

Any thoughts?