Backdating
Can my claim be backdated?
Working age customers:
Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit can be considered for
backdating up to six months (this changed in October 2008)
You will need to submit your request for a backdate, in writing,
and show that you had continuous 'good cause' for failing to make
an earlier claim. You can request backdated benefit on the
benefit claim form or via a letter.
What is 'Good Cause'?
'Good cause' is something that prevented you from being able to
make your claim at the right time. Unfortunately, 'not knowing'
that you could have made a claim is not, by itself, a good enough
reason to allow backdating.
Examples of ‘Good Cause’ could be that:
- You were ill
- You were in hospital
- You were unavoidably away from home
- You were unable to manage your affairs
- You had a family crisis
- You had difficulties because English is not your first
language
We do look at each case individually but can only make a
decision based on the information you give to us, so it
is important that you give us as much information as you can
to support your request for backdating.
I have made a claim for backdating, what happens
next?
Based on the information you have provided, we will decide
whether or not we are able to backdate your benefit. When we have
made the decision we will write to you.
What if I do not agree with your
decision?
If we refuse your request, you can submit an appeal against our decision in
writing, which must be made within one calender month of the
date of the decision being made.
Customers who have reached State Retirement Pension age:
If you claim Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit we must
consider your claim from any period in the three months before the
day the claim is actually received. We can only do this if you are
liable to pay rent or Council Tax during this period and you
are entitled to claim. If this is the case, we will write to you to
ask for further details if we do not have them.
This webpage was updated on
1/11/2012