About backdating claims
Your benefit will usually start the Monday after we receive your application. In some circumstances, we may be able to pay Housing Benefit for an earlier date than the date of your claim form. This is known as a “backdate”.
Reasons for backdating a claim
Backdating is sometimes possible, but there are only limited circumstances, so it is best to make your claim for housing benefit as soon as possible.
The rules about when we can pay a backdate are different for people who are working age and people who have reached pension age.
Pension age
If you (or your partner if you have one) have reached pension age, you don’t have to ask us to backdate your claim – we will automatically check if we can when we receive your form. This only applies if you (or your partner) are not in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, or Employment and Support Allowance.
If we can backdate your claim, the most we can go back is 3 months before you made your claim.
Working age
From 1 April we may be able to backdate your Housing Benefit for up to 1 month, but you must have a good reason for not having claimed sooner. See details of how to ask for a backdate.