How do I claim backdated benefit?

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Last revised: 14 November 2008

You may be able to get some Housing Benefit for a period before you make your claim if you could have claimed earlier. Getting benefit for a period before you claim is called ‘backdating’. You can get backdated Housing Benefit for up to 3 months if you are aged 60 or over, or up to 6 months if you are working age from the date of your request, if you can show you have a good reason for not claiming earlier, for example, you were in hospital.

You also have to show that you were entitled to Housing Benefit throughout the period of backdating – that you were paying rent, and your income was low enough.

You will not usually get any backdated benefit just because you did not know that you could make a claim. You should explain on your claim form that you want to claim benefit from an earlier date, and give your reasons for failing to claim earlier.

For more information please see our information leaflet and if you wish to apply please contact us or download our backdated benefit claim form