Time limits for claiming
Have I got a good enough reason for not applying sooner?
How do I apply?
Council Tax Benefit is normally paid from the Monday after we receive your claim.
If there has been a good reason why you could not complete or get your form to us sooner, then you can ask for your claim to be 'backdated' to an earlier date.
Time limits
There are limits as to how far back we can go and these time limits start from when we receive your request for backdated benefit.
- If your claim is treated under the 'Pension Age' rules then the maximum backdate you can claim is three months
- If your claim is treated under the 'Working Age' rules then the maximum backdate you can claim is six months
Check out the glossary for the definition of Pension Age and Working Age
What is a good reason for not applying sooner?
You need to have a good reason for not claiming at the right time; we call this having or showing 'good cause'.
Thinking that you may not be entitled to benefit or not knowing that you could claim are not normally good reasons for us to be able to backdate your claim.
Good reasons include:
- being too ill to claim
- not knowing about recent changes in the rules and regulations
- bereavement
- problems with postal services
- not being given the correct information by an official body or service such as an advice centre
- having to rely on others to deal with your affairs due to a disability, your age or because of your health
These are just some common examples of what is a good reason. If you think you should get backdated benefit but your circumstances are not listed on this page; contact us for more information or make a claim for backdating.
Do I need a good reason for the whole period?
Yes, you must show that you had a good reason for the whole period that you are asking us to backdate. If you only have a good reason for part of the time then we will only look at this period.
How do I apply for my claim to be backdated?
- If you are sending in a paper application for Housing Benefit, Local Housing Allowance or Council Tax Benefit then fill in part 13 or;
- If you are claiming Housing or Council Tax Benefit on line, complete the section for backating or;
- Write to us asking for your claim to be backdated or;
- Email us using the link provided on the right asking for your claim to be backdated
What do I need to include?
If you write to or email us then we will need the following:
- your name address and reference number
- the dates you want us to backdate your claim from and to
- the reasons why you could not apply sooner
- details of your income and capital for the period you are asking us to backdate
- if you have any proof to confirm your reasons for making a late claim then send them to us e.g. proof of hospital admission and discharge dates
If you are completing part 13 of the paper application form but there is not enough room to write your reasons in the box provided; continue on a separate piece of paper and attach it to your claim form.
What happens next?
If we need more information then we will write to you to let you know what we want and the date you need to provide it by.
We will write to you when we have made a decision.