Backdating rules

Changes to the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (HB/CTB) backdating rules also come into effect in October. Currently, working age customers can have their entitlement backdate up to 52 weeks, if they can show they had good cause for not applying earlier. Older people can receive a backdated payment of up to 12 months, provided they have reached qualifying age for Pension Credit.

The Government plans to reduce the backdating of claims for all customers, to three months, for Pension Age and Pension Credit claimants and 6 months for Working Age customers and those on Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based) from 6 October 2008 bringing Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit broadly into line with other income-related benefits.

Our contact details