Backdated claims

When are Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit awarded from?

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are normally awarded from the Monday after the day you claim.

What if I want benefit from an earlier date?

We can backdate your benefit for up to 52 weeks in certain circumstances. But you must have a good reason for not claiming earlier.

What is a good reason?

We look at things like your health, any family problems you have had and language problems (for example, if English is not your first language). We may also think you have a good reason for not claiming earlier if you have been given wrong advice by someone who should have known better. This would include staff from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, the Benefits Agency or our office.

If you forgot to claim, or didn’t realise you could claim, this would not be a good reason. We can only backdate your benefit if your reasons for not claiming earlier lasted until you did claim.

How do I claim backdated benefit?

If you think you might be entitled to backdated benefit, you should write to our office. Don’t delay, claim today. You can write when you claim benefit, or within one month of getting a benefit decision. Your letter should say why your claim is late.

What happens then?

We will decide whether your reasons are good enough to backdate your benefit. We will write to you within two weeks and tell you our decision. If we decide not to backdate your benefit, we will tell you why.

Can I appeal?

We may feel your reasons are not good enough to backdate your benefit. If you are not satisfied with our decision, you can ask us to look at it again or you can appeal against it. You must write to us within one month of getting our decision. Your letter should say why you are not satisfied.

Still not sure what to do?

If you need any help or more advice about backdating benefit, please get in touch with us.

Your comments Benefit

We are always looking for ways to improve our service and we value your comments.

Contacts

By phone:

Phone: 0141 577 3677 for Council Housing/3705 for non Council Housing

Fax: 0141 577 3255

You can phone these numbers Monday to Thursday from 8.45am to 4.45pm. Friday 8.45am to 3.55pm

E-Mail:

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: How do I claim backdated council tax and housing benefit?
  • A: You must apply to us in writing if you want your housing or council tax benefit backdated. Depending on what you tell us, we will ask for supporting evidence, such as a letter from your doctor if you are/were ill. We also look at things like your health, any family problems you have had and language problems (for example, if English is not your first language). If you forgot to claim, or didn’t realise you could claim, these would not be good reasons. We can only backdate your benefit if your reason(s) for not claiming lasted until you did claim.