Backdating Claims

You can claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for a past period - called backdating.

A claim can only be backdated for a maximum of 52 weeks from the date of your claim for backdated benefit.

In order for a claim to be backdated, we must be satisfied that you have shown good cause for failing to claim earlier. We must also be satisfied that good cause existed continuously during the period for which you have requested backdating.

We must be satisfied that your circumstances during this time were such that any reasonable person of your age and experience would also have failed to claim benefit.

You have to prove good cause but we must still take account of all the facts of your case.

Some examples of when you may have good cause are:

• If you did not claim benefit immediately after leaving hospital
• If you were ill and had no-one to make a claim on your behalf
• If you did not understand that you could claim benefit perhaps because of age, inexperience or language difficulties
• If you have recently suffered a family bereavement

What happens when a backdated claim is made?

A Benefits Officer will consider your claim. The more information and evidence you give in support of your claim, the quicker a decision can be made.

Sometimes it may be necessary to write to you for more information or to ask you to come in for an informal interview.  Your claim will be considered and you will be sent a letter telling you of our decision.

If we have decided that you have not shown good cause and that we cannot backdate your claim, the reasons for this will be explained in our letter.

You will then have the right of appeal against our decision not to backdate your claim.