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Backdating Council Tax Benefit

 
If you make a late claim for Council Tax Benefit, we may be able to pay your  benefit from an earlier date.

We can only backdate your benefit if you show continuous good cause for making a late claim. There is no formal definition of a ‘good cause’, so we judge each case on its own merits.

There are no time limits for requesting backdating. However, the maximum period that a benefit claim can be backdated is 52 weeks from the date we receive your request.

How to apply for backdated Council Tax benefit

When applying for Council Tax Benefit, complete part 23 of the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit form.

Tell us the reasons why you did not claim earlier, and send any proof that you have to support this claim with your application.

Please give us as much detail as possible. We may write to you for furtrher proof of the reasons why your claim is late.

What happens next?

Once your claim has been processed, we will write and tell you of our decision. For further details about the application process, see the Apply for benefit page.

Appeals

If backdating is refused and you don't agree with the decision, you can appeal.

Further information

Please contact us.

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