Backdated claims
You may request that your claim is backdated if you had a valid reason for not applying for Housing Benefit earlier. You must show that this reason applied throughout the entire period for which you are requesting a backdate.
Housing Benefit can be backdated for up to 3 months for people of pension age. If you qualify for Housing Benefit, any entitlement during the 3 months before your application is awarded automatically.
For a working age person, Housing Benefit can be backdated for up to 6 months and you must explain why you were unable to claim earlier and show that you had “good cause” throughout the period being backdated.
Some examples of good cause are:
- If you could 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 are making a new claim, you do not need to make a separate claim for backdated payments. If you no longer qualify for this benefit but have done in the past, please contact the Welfare Support team.