Backdated claims

What is backdating?

Backdating means getting benefit for a period before you made your claim. You'll need to give good reasons why you couldn't make your claim sooner.

If you're working age

You'll have to claim Universal Credit to get help with your rent, unless you live in supported, temporary or sheltered accommodation.  If you're making a new claim for Housing Benefit, we can only award it from the date you contact us.

We can only allow Council Tax Support from the date you contact us, as the Jobcentre no longer takes claims for us. So you must get in touch with us directly even if you're making a claim for other benefits.

We can backdate a claim for Housing Benefit for up to one month, and Council Tax Support up to six months. 

Reasons for backdating can include:

• Being in hospital or too ill to claim, and there was no one else who could help you
• Going through a bereavement
• Not knowing about a change in the law that meant you might qualify
• Being given the wrong advice about claiming from a reliable source like an advice centre or solicitor
• Not understanding that you could claim because of age, inexperience or language barriers.

If you didn't claim because you didn't know you were entitled, or thought you didn't need to make a claim, this won't count as a good reason.

There may be other good reasons why you claimed late. Tell us why, and we'll look at your circumstances and decide if we can allow the delay.

If you need your claim backdated, please fill in the backdating section of the claim form. You can also email or write to us.

If you're pension age

If you're pension age, we'll automatically look at both Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support for three months before the date you claimed. You won't need to ask for backdating or give reasons for not claiming sooner.

Mixed age couples

The rules for couples who need to claim help with their rent have changed.

If one of you is State Pension age and the other isn't, then you’re a ‘mixed age couple’.

Read more about mixed age couples

If you need any help or more information, please get in touch.