Housing Benefit Backdated Claims
You may be eligible to claim for housing benefit to be backdated if there is a good reason why you were unable to apply for housing benefit earlier.
We provide information on how to:
Benefit is usually paid from the Monday following receipt of the claim. However, sometimes Housing Benefit can be backdated – but only up to 6 months before the date the request is made.
There has to be a good reason for you not applying at the correct time.
The kind of things that may be acceptable are :
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You were given the wrong advice by a Council Officer
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You were incapacitated and unable to claim earlier
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You had suffered a bereavement
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You were unable to manage your own affairs and did not have an 'appointee'
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You have language or reading difficulties and had no-one to make the claim on your behalf
How do I request backdating?
A request for benefit to be backdated must be made in writing on either the benefit application form or in a letter. The written request must state clearly the reasons why you did not claim benefit on time. You will need to show that you had a good reason for the whole of the period in question, as to why you were unable to make your claim at the correct time.
What happens when you receive my request?
When we receive your written request, we will make a decision to grant or refuse your request based upon the Housing and Council Tax Benefit regulations, the information that you have provided and any other relevant facts which we have to support your claim. When we have made a decision we will send you a letter explaining our decision. If we refuse to backdate your claim we will inform you of your rights of appeal.
Backdating a Claim for Pension Age Claimants
Benefit is usually paid from the Monday following receipt of the claim. However, if you are a Pension Credit Age customer Housing Benefit may be backdated for up to 3 months from the date you first applied.
Working age men aged 60 - 64
If you are a man aged 60 – 64 you are a working age customer, but you are also entitled to claim Pension Credit.
The following rules for backdating apply to you:
If you or your partner, are in receipt of Income Support (IS) or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA(IB)), your Housing and Council Tax Benefit could be backdated for a maximum of six months in line with the Working Age rules. You will need to show good cause for not claiming before.
If you are claiming Pension Credit (and your partner is not in receipt of IS or JSA(IB)), the three month limit applies.
How do I request backdating?
If you are claiming under the Pension Age rules and are entitled to have your claim backdated we will do this without you having to make a formal request.
If you are claiming under the Working Age rules you must make a written request for benefit to be backdated. This can either be on the benefit application form or in a letter. The written request must state clearly the reasons why you did not claim benefit on time. You will need to show that you had a good reason, for the whole of the period in question, as to why you were unable to make your claim at the correct time.
What happens when you receive my request?
When we receive your written request, we will make a decision to grant or refuse your request based upon the Housing and Council Tax Benefit regulations, the information that you have provided and any other relevant facts which we have to support your claim. When we have made a decision we will send you a letter explaining our decision. If we refuse to backdate your claim we will inform you of your rights of appeal.