Council services
Backdated claims
If you think you have good cause for your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit to be awarded from an earlier date, you will need to:
- Put your backdating request in writing and send it to our offices
- Explain the reason for the delay in making your claim
Reasons for backdating your claim
There is no formal definition of 'good cause', although there is some guidance and case law. Each case is decided upon the individual circumstances.
What happens next?
Once we have received your request, your case will be looked at and you will be sent a letter explaining the decision and why it has been made.
If you do not agree with the decision that has been made, you can write and ask us to look at it again or you can appeal to the Independent Appeals Tribunal.
