Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction: backdated claims

If you think your claim should have started earlier then you can tell us on Part 14 of the application form or by writing to the Benefits Team. You must tell us when you think your claim should start from and reasons why you did not apply at the time - this is known as good cause. You must also give us proof of all your circumstances for the period you want a backdate to be considered.

Pension age claimants

Claimants of Pension Age who are not in receipt of Working Age Benefits may have their claim assessed from three months prior to the date of their application. This applies to claims for Housing and/or Council Tax Reduction made on or after 6 October 2008.

Working age claimants

Claimants of working age may have their claim backdated for a maximum period of six months prior to the date of their application. This applies to claims for Housing and/or Council Tax Reduction made on or after 6 October 2008.

Good Cause

Each case will be considered on its own merits and by taking into account the following:

• claimant’s life experience, age and their circumstances
• claimant’s health
• claimant’s control over provision of information required to support claim, eg delay by employer, Jobcentre Plus, GP, etc
• household or other factors that affect the claimant’s ability to claim
• awareness of current backdating rules in place since 6 October 2008
• claimant’s nationality and length of residence in Great Britain
• postal delays or other Royal Mail related problems
• misleading information from any source, eg charities, Citizens Advice Bureau, local authority, Government, etc

The list of factors to be considered in determining good cause is not exhaustive, therefore all information provided must be taken into account.

Evidence of all income and capital, and any household changes, must be provided in order for an award to be assessed. If a claimant has good cause, but all evidence required cannot be provided by them then an award cannot be made.