Backdated benefit

Backdating a claim

You can however claim Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit for a past period - this is called 'backdating'.

The rules regarding back-dated benefit changed from the 6th October 2008. If you (and your partner) are under 60 years of age then the maximum period you can receive back-dated benefit for is now six months (previously it was 52 weeks).  

In order for a claim to be backdated we must be satisfied that

• you have shown good cause for failing to claim earlier and
• that good cause existed continuously during the period for which backdating is being requested

You will need to show continuous good cause for not claiming earlier and we must be satisfied that your circumstances, during this time were such that any reasonable person of your age and experience would also have failed to claim benefit.

You have to prove "good cause" but we must take account of all the facts of your case.

Some examples of when you may have "good cause" are:

• If you did not immediately claim benefit after leaving hospital
• If you were ill and had no-one to make a claim on your behalf
• If you did not understand that you could claim benefit perhaps because of age, inexperience or language difficulties.
• If you have suffered a recent family bereavement.

If you or your partner are 60 years of age or older then the maximum period we will be able to back-date your claim for is three months,  but you will not need to demonstrate good cause for not claiming at an earlier date - i.e, as long as you can provide evidence of your financial situation for the three months prior to the date of your claim, your benefit will back-dated automatically and you will not need to provide details of why you did not not claim previously.

What happens when a backdated claim is made?

Your claim will be considered by a Benefits Officer. The more information and evidence you give in support of your claim the quicker a decision can be made.

Sometimes it may be necessary to write to you for more information or to ask you to come in for an informal interview.

Your claim will be looked at within 14 days and you will be sent a letter telling you of our decision.
If we have decided that you have not shown "good cause" and that we cannot backdate your claim, the reasons for this will be explained in our letter.

You will then have the right of appeal against our decision not to backdate your claim. For further details on the appeal process, please see the section 'How to Appeal'. 

How to apply for backdated Benefit.

To apply for back-dated Housing and Council Tax Benefit, please click on the link below to download a leaflet on which you can make your request:

Once completed, please send this form to:

The Benefit Section
St Albans District Council
Civic Centre
St Albans
AL1 3JE

• Backdating your benefit claim leaflet (PDF - 686 kb)

Things to remember when you claim backdated benefit:

• You must prove to the Council that there was "good cause" for not having made an earlier claim.
• You must give the period that you want backdated benefit for.
• You must show that there was "good cause" for not making an earlier claim throughout the whole period you want backdated benefit for.
• You should give as much information as possible on the reasons for not having claimed earlier, including evidence to support your claim.
• The more information you can give us, the better the chance of your claim being agreed.
• Should you run out of space please continue on a separate sheet of paper.

For help or independent advice on this and any other benefit matter you can contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Citizens Advice Bureau
64 London Road
St Albans
Herts
01727 - 855269

Citizens Advice Bureau
Harpenden Town Hall
Leyton Road
Harpenden
Herts
01582 769387