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Anyone currently receiving Housing Benefit under the Local Housing Allowance Scheme will be sent a letter outlining the changes and effects to their payments around the time of their review date.

Housing and Council Tax Benefit is normally awarded from the Monday after the date we receive the claim. Sometimes we can award benefit from an earlier date if you have good reason for not applying earlier.

We can only backdate your benefit for up to six months for working age claimants and three months for customers over 60 from the date you ask us to and you must give a good reason why this should be done.

Request backdating

  • If you would like to ask for backdating at the same time as you are applying for benefit, you should will be given an opportunity to do so when you apply.
  • If you have already been awarded benefit but you would like your claim to start from an earlier date, please write to us within 1 calendar month of the date of the benefit notification.
  • You should give us as much detail as you can and provide any relevant evidence to support your claim.
  • You will need to provide proof of your income and circumstances for the time that you are requesting backdated benefit.
  • You can get help and advice at the Payments, Benefits and Customer Services reception.

What may be good reasons for backdated benefit?Cash

  • You had to go to another part of the country or abroad in an emergency
  • You were in hospital or seriously ill and had no one else to claim on your behalf
  • You could not manage your own affairs and did not have someone acting on your behalf
  • A recent bereavement

What happens after I have asked for backdating?

  • We will write to you as soon as possible to let you know the outcome of your request.
  • If your request is refused, we will write to you to let you know why. We will also tell you how to dispute your decision.
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