Benefit Backdating
If you get Housing or Council Tax Benefit but would have made a claim for benefit sooner if you could have, you can ask us to backdate your claim for benefit. This means that we could treat your claim as if you had sent us your claim form on an earlier date
We can usually award benefit from the Monday after the day we receive your claim. Sometimes we can pay benefit from an earlier date if you have a good reason for not claiming earlier. This reason must have lasted throughout the whole period that you want us to backdate your claim for benefit.
From 6 October 2008, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit can be backdated for up to 6 months if you are working age. If you want us to consider paying your benefit from an earlier date, tell us the dates you want benefit from and why you did not claim earlier. People of pension age may have their claims backdated for 3 months.
If you believe we should backdate your claim, you must write to us to tell us your reasons for not claiming benefit sooner.
If you would like further information please contact us using the details on the right.
Page updated: 3 Oct 2008