Benefits advice
Backdated benefits
When will my benefit normally begin?
The council can normally only pay housing benefit or council tax benefit from the Monday after we receive your application form.
However, if you claim your benefit within four weeks of claiming income support or job seekers allowance (income based) your benefit will be paid from the Monday after your income spport or job seekers allowance was awarded.
Are you claiming income support or job seekers allowance (income based)?
It is possible to have your claim backdated if you have not made your claim for housing or council tax benefit within 4 weeks of claiming income support or job seekers allowance.
Your claim may be backdated to the date your income support or job seekers allowance was awarded if you have a good reason for not claiming your benefit earlier.
What if I am not receiving income support or job seekers allowance?
If you are claiming housing or council tax benefit but are not receiving income support or job seekers allowance you may be able to have your claim paid from an earlier date if you have good reason for not making your claim earlier.
How can I have my benefit backdated?
Benefit can only be backdated for a maximum period of 52 weeks from the date you ask for your benefit to be backdated.
If you want your claim backdated you must write to the office and give your reasons why you didn't claim earlier.
What we need to know
We need to know the reasons why you didn't fill in a form earlier.
You need to tell us anything you think we might need to know.
For example, was it because:
- You were ill before you claimed?
- Someone in your family was ill?
- You had been in hospital?
- You have been unable to manage your affairs?
- You can't write or understand English very well?
If you did not understand that you could claim benefit, tell us whether you asked anyone if you could claim and give any reasons why you did not think you could claim.
Everyone's reasons will be different and we will take into account your age and personal circumstances when we decide if we can backdate your claim.
What if my claim for backdated benefit is turned down?
You can ask us to look at your claim again, or you can appeal to a review board.
If you are unhappy with the decision you will find more details on the appeals pages.