Backdates and Appeals

Backdates

• Housing and Council Tax Benefit is usually paid from the Monday after we receive your form. 
• In certain circumstances we can backdate your claim for up to 52 weeks before this date,  however for us to do this you must be able to show good reasons for not claiming earlier. 
• Some examples are:
  - the claimant was so ill they could not claim and could not ask for someone to claim for them.
  - the claimant was in hospital and could not claim and could not ask someone to claim for them
  - someone the claimant should have been able to rely on, such as the local authority, Department for Works and Pensions or an advice agency, gave them wrong advice by telling them they could not get Housing or Council Tax Benefit when in fact they could.
  

People Over 60 Years of Age

• For people over 60, the claim can cover any period for the 12 months before the claim is actually received, but only back to their 60th birthday.  This applies in all cases without the claimant having to ask for it.  This is not the same as backdating. 

Appeals 

• If you are unhappy with any decisions we have made about your claim, you can ask us to look at these again, or you can make an appeal to the Tribunal Service. 
• If you want us to look at our decision again, or if you want to appeal, you must write to us within one month of the date you received our decision, clearly stating why you disagree with our decision.  
• Once your claim has been looked at again, we will write to you and tell you if we can change our decision.
  

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