Backdating your claim

How to claim backdated Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit

Do you want your claim for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit to start from an earlier date?

If YES this page can help

Claiming for an earlier period

If you want to claim Housing Benefit (HB) and/or Council Tax Benefit (CTB) from an earlier date, you must write telling us the date you want your claim to start. We can only backdate HB and CTB for a maximum period of 52 weeks form the date we receive your request. We can only backdate your claim if we feel you have shown continuous good cause for not claiming earlier.

We make our decision based on the information you give us and any other information we may have. We will not consider you have given us good cause to backdate your claim if:

• You did not know you could claim (unless you have good reasons for failing to make any enquiries)
• We do not receive your form and you do not contact us within 4 weeks of sending it, to find our how your claim is progressing
• You do not receive your review application form and you fail to contact us within 4 weeks of your claim ending
• You did not know you had to claim punctually
• You mislay or lose your application form

How do I ask for backdated HB and/or CTB?

You can ask us to backdate your claim at any time. However, we can only backdate HB and/or CTB for a maximum period of 52 weeks form the date we receive your request. You must make your request in writing.

You can ask us to backdate your benefit by

• Giving us relevant information on your claim form
• Writing a letter, telling us the date you want your benefit to start and your reasons for not claiming earlier. Include anything you think is important

What if I need help with my request for backdated benefit?

If you need help with your request you can get a friend, family member or an organisation like the Citizens Advice Bureau to write your letter. If you do this you must either sign the letter yourself or include a letter signed by you giving us permission to deal with the person or organisation that helped you.

What happens next?

When we get your letter we will decide whether to allow or refuse your request based on HB or CTB law, the information you give and any other information we already have. We aim to reply within 14 days telling you what we have decided and our reasons.

If we grant your request

We will send you a letter explaining any adjustments to your claim as a result of your successful backdate request

If we refuse your request

We will send you a letter explaining why we turned down your request. We will tell you what the rights of appeal you have if you disagree with our decision.