Backdating
We normally pay benefit from the Monday after we receive your claim form. It may be possible to backdate your claim if you can show "Good Cause" as to why you did not claim earlier. You must be able to satisfy us that you had "Good Cause" for the whole period that you are asking for backdating to be granted for.
If we are satisfied with the explanation you give, The maximum period for which we can backdate Housiing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit is 6 months for working-age claimants and 3 months for pensioners. The times limits are set by the government and the Council cannot change them. Time is counted back from the date of your request.
What is "Good Cause"?
"Good Cause" is something that prevented you from being able to make your claim at the right time. Unfortunately, just "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 really important that you give us as much information as you can to support your request for backdating.
In order to backdate your benefit we must be satisfied that a reasonable person of your age, health and experience would have acted in the same way as you did.
How to apply for Backdating
Write and tell us why you think we should backdate your benefit, making sure you give us as much detail as possible to help us make our decision. There is section on the claim form which you can complete if you would like to request backdating.
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.
If we refuse your request, you can ask us to reconsider our decision.