Benefit / reduction will normally be awarded from the Monday following the week in which we receive your application form. In certain circumstances, it may be possible to award benefit / reduction from an earlier date. This is called backdating.
The maximum amount of time that your claim can be backdated is different for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction claims. The maximum period a Housing Benefit claim can be backdated for working age customers is one month from the date you request it. The maximum period a claim for Council Tax Reduction can be backdated for working age customers is six months from the date you request it.
Pension age claimants are treated differently when considering backdated periods. The maximum period claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction can be backdated is three months but this will be applied automatically, without having to show good cause for not claiming earlier.
It is not possible to backdate a claim any further than these periods.
In order for a request for backdating to be considered there must be what is called 'good cause' and the council must be satisfied with the reasons you have given for not claiming benefit / reduction at the appropriate time.
How to claim benefit / reduction for a backdated period
If you wish to make a claim for backdated benefit / reduction you need to:
Complete the backdated claims section of the application form and tell us why you wish to claim backdated benefit / reduction, the date you want to claim from and your reasons for not applying at the time.