Backdating Housing or Council Tax Benefits
What is backdating?
How far can we go?
Working Age claimants
Pension Age cliamants
How do we decide to backdate or not?
What is good cause?
How will I know if my claim is backdated?
Questions to ask yourself before requesting a backdate for Housing and Council Tax Benefit.
How do I request a backdated benefit?
Backdated benefit is Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit paid for a period of time before we got your claim form.
For example:
(note that benefit is usually paid from the following Monday).
Housing Benefit backdating rules – from 6 October 2008
There are different rules for claimants of working age and those of pension age:
The maximum period a claim for HB/CTB can be backdated reduces from 52 weeks to six months.
The maximum period Pension Credit age customers’ HB/CTB claims can be backdated reduces from 12 months to 3 months.
The government’s aim is to reduce the maximum backdating period for all claimants to 3 months. The change to working age claimants will be done incrementally and the rules will be reviewed towards the end of next year.
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You have to show that you had a good cause or reason for not claiming Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit at the time. The good cause for not claiming at the time must have lasted for the whole time you ask us to backdate your claim.
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There could be one or more reasons why you were unable to claim. There is a list of questions further down this page that may help you. Here are some examples of common causes for claiming late:
You have been seriously ill or in hospital
You have been out of the country for a long time and did not know you could claim
You have problems with English and no one to help you claim
You were given wrong advice at the Jobcentre Plus
Reasons like these could help you get backdated benefit, BUT we have to look at each claim on its own merit and take everything into consideration.
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We will write to you when we have decided whether or not to backdate your claim. If we do backdate your claim, the letter will tell you the date we are backdating to, how much benefit you will get, and how it will be paid. If we do not backdate your claim, the letter will tell you why not and what you can do if you are not happy with our decision.
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Have you claimed Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit before?
Have you ever heard of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit before?
Have you claimed other benefits here or abroad before?
Have you recently come to this country for the first time?
Have you been in long-term care until recently? (eg: hospital).
Did you wait to hear about a claim for another benefit before claiming Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit?
Did you wait for other information to back up your claim before claiming?
Was there a reason why you thought you did not have to claim?
Did you not claim before because you thought you would not be entitled?
Did you not claim before because you were expecting money from elsewhere?
Are you a school-leaver and unaware of the benefits system?
Do you have problems with speaking, reading or writing English?
Did you know that the council has staff who can interpret other languages?
Did you suffer any physical or medical condition which stopped you claiming?
Were you absent from home due to fear of domestic violence?
Were you absent from home sue to problems with the building?
Do you have problems getting your post?
Have you been in custody before making a claim?
Did your late partner deal with all your financial affairs?
Did you know of anyone who could seek advice or claim on your behalf?
Did you have an appointee, but there was a good reason why they could not claim for you (such as being in hospital at the time)?
Did you seek advice about claiming Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit?
Did you make contact with the Council or the Jobcentre Plus (DSS)?
Had you been turned down for benefit in the past?
Did an official advise you not to claim at the time?
Did you have contact with people who could help, such as Age Concern, Neighbourhood Housing Offices, Home Helps, etc?
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The request must be in writing and must include as much detail as possible. You should provide any evidence you may have to support your request. If we do not have sufficient information to make a decision we may ask you to come into the office to see one of our officers.
You can telephone the Revenues & Benefits office on (0116)2527006 to request a backdate request form or to make an appointment to see one of our officers.
If you need general information on backdating your claim in languages other than English please visit www.benefit-leaflets.org/backdated/home.asp
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If you need help reading this web page, or require it in a different format, please call 0116 238 5114.
