Benefits - Backdating

What is backdating?

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit awards will normally be given from the Monday after we receive your claim. However, in certain circumstances, it is possible to award benefit from an earlier date. This is called backdating.

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit cannot be backdated more than 52 weeks

How do I make a claim for backdating?

If you want to claim for a past period you will need to tell us, in writing, why you would like the claim backdated, for what period of time, and why you could not claim earlier.

For us to consider a claim for backdating you will need to show what is known as continuous 'good cause' as to why you did not claim benefit at the appropriate time.

Some examples of 'good cause' are:

• You were ill and had no one to claim on your behalf.
• You could not have been reasonably expected to know your rights e.g. where there have been changes in the law
• You did not understand that you could claim because of age, inexperience, language difficulties or difficulty in understanding technical documents
• You were wrongly advised that you were not entitled to Housing/Council Tax Benefit
• You are unable to manage your affairs and do not have an 'appointee'.
• You have become liable for council tax for a past period

Backdated benefit can only be awarded if you can show that you were unable to make a claim earlier and that this reason existed up to the date you make your request.