The date of a claim for Benefit is usually the day the benefit application is received by us. If you are claiming Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (income based) the date of the claim is the first day of entitlement of Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance, providing you claim Housing or Council Tax Benefit within four weeks.

The benefit start date is usually the Monday following the date of the claim, for example:
Benefit claim received Thursday 6th January 2005
Benefit start date Monday 10th January 2005

However there are exceptions to this rule:

Housing Benefit

If you move into a new home and claim Housing Benefit in the same week your claim may start from that week

Example: You move in Wednesday 5th January 2005
Benefit claim received Wednesday 5th January 2005
Rent charged from Monday 3th January 2005
Benefit start date Monday 3th January 2005

This could also apply if you inherit a tenancy or because of a rent free week.

Council Tax Benefit

If you move into a new home and claim Council Tax Benefit in the same week your claim for Council Tax Benefit may start from that week.

Example: Your move in Wednesday 5th January 2005
Benefit claim received Wednesday 5th January 2005
Council Tax liability from Wednesday 5th January 2005
Benefit start date Wednesday 5th January 2005

This could also apply if you inherit the liability for Council Tax because the previous person liable has died or because an exemption had been removed.