Backdating your Council Tax Support claim

What is backdating and when can we consider it?

Sometimes Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support customers think we should pay their benefit from a date before we received their claim. In other words, they want us to 'backdate' their benefit.  Backdating is sometimes possible but it can only be done in limited circumstances so it is always best to make your claim as soon as possible. For example don't delay your claim because you can't get the evidence we need. Send your claim to us and provide the evidence later, but within one month.

If you disagree with the date your claim starts from for any other reason you can ask us to reconsider our decision.

If you are a working age customer who is asking for backdating for up to six months you will be expected to show good reason (often called 'good cause') for not claiming earlier.  It is up to you to show that you had good reason throughout the whole period you are asking for backdating for.  There is no formal definition of 'good cause' - each case will be decided according to its own individual merits.  There are no formal time limits on making a backdate request, but the maximum period that a benefit/support claim can be backdated is 6 months for working age customers, this will apply from the date that we receive your request for backdating. 

If you want us to consider backdating your claim, the request must be made in writing and be signed by you.  You must tell us why you didn't claim sooner. You will have to show good reason for not claiming earlier throughout the whole period you are asking for backdating for. The most we can backdate your claim for is six months. You also need to tell us:

• the date you want us to start your benefit from;
• details and evidence of the money you had coming in during the time between the date you want your benefit to start and now; and
• details of who was in your household at that time

If you are a Pension age customer (those who have reached the qualifying age for State Pension Credit) you do not need to tell us why you didn't claim sooner. We can backdate your claim for up to three months if you ask us to, as long as you give us the following information:

• the date you want us to start your benefit from;
• details and evidence of the money you had coming in during the time between the date you want your benefit to start and now; and
• details of who was in your household at that time.

If you require any further information or would like an application form sent to you then please contact the Benefits team.