Charnwood Borough Council

Benefit will usually start from the Monday after the date a claim is received at the Benefits Service. However there are special rules for people claiming Income Support, Pension Credits and Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based) and people who become tenants for the first time. Please contact us for more information.

It is possible for your benefit claim to be considered from a date earlier than the date your claim is received at the Benefits Service. Benefit entitlement may be awarded for a period of up to 3 months before the date your request is made if you are over 60 yrs of age or up to 6 months before the date your request is made if you are under 60 yrs of age. N.B. this time scale may change in the future.

For your claim to be backdated you must show that you had good cause for not making the claim at the earlier date.

What is a good cause?

Here are some examples of what might be accepted as good cause to backdate your application:

• You were too ill to claim at the time and no one else could help you
• You did not understand that you could make a claim because of language or communication difficulties. (for example English is not your first language)
• You were told you could not get benefit by the Council, Benefits Agency, Job Centre Plus, Pensions Service or an Advice Centre
• You did not know about a change in the law that meant you could qualify
• Your claim involved complex law that you could not be expected to understand
• You were waiting for a decision on another benefit

The fact that you did not know about Housing and or Council Tax Benefit or did not think that you would not be entitled are not in themselves good cause for backdating.

Any reasons for not claiming at an earlier date must apply to the whole of the period that you are asking for backdating.

How to ask for backdating

You can complete the "Backdating" section of the application form or you can write a letter asking for backdating. In the request you must state the period you are asking for backdating and the reasons you want your claim backdating. If you need help with this contact us immediately.

You should provide letters from your Doctor, Social Worker or Advice Worker where they will help your claim.

We will look at your claim but we may need to ask you for more information to make a decision based on what you have told us. We will then write to you to explain our decision.

If your claim is backdated any benefit due will be paid to you. If your claim is not backdated you will have the right of appeal Click here for further information.

• Application for backdating (PDF Document 65.07 Kb.)