My client's JSA has stopped. He is self employed on a very low income. Some weeks he is running his business at a loss. JSA stopped because the income forecast from his accountant (after deducting expenses etc) was a few pounds a week above the minimum. He has had very little work since JSA stopped and wants to re-submit lower income forecast figures, which may entitle him to JSA. My client would like his JSA to paid backdated to the date it stopped. Can he just write to JSA and explain the mistake and request backdating, or if not, does he have grounds for an appeal, even though he provided the incorrect information himself? Should he also put in a new claim for JSA? Any advice would be appreciated

I think there are several problems here.

It seems he is in theory in “full time paid work” (working 16 hours or more) but it is not paying him much money.
Self employed people pay class 2 contribution. Has he been paying class 2? Class 2 contributions do not entitle you to contributory job seekers.
So he is only able to claim income based job seekers allowance. But I think it is not how much he is earning but that he is technically not unemployed.
He needs to sign a job seeker agreement. Showing he is unemployed - available and actively seeking for full time paid work. Is he?

I had a case like this a few years ago. It was an antique dealer who’s accounts showed very little income. The only way he could get income based job seekers allowance was to officially wind up his business .

Should he be claiming WTC instead?

Thank you for your replies. My client works much less than 16 hours a week and signs on. He claims tax credits. Since I posted my question yesterday, I have found out more about the JSA regs and think I may now have the infomation I need
Thanks again