Backdating Your Claim

If you are of working age, an application for benefit can be backdated by up to one month from the date of your claim, if you have a good reason why you did not make the claim at the time, such as if you have:

been in hospital or been severely ill
suffered a recent bereavement
had a family crisis
been given wrong advice from someone who you should be able to rely on, such as council staff, a social worker or the Department for Work and Pensions.

If you are of pension age, an application can be backdated up to three months from the date of your claim, without you having to give a reason for the delay in applying.

Getting Housing Benefit Before You Move

Usually, Housing Benefit is awarded from the date you move in to a property but, in some circumstances, benefit can be paid before you move in, if:

your move is delayed because you are waiting to leave hospital care or a care home
you are waiting for a decision to be made about a social fund payment or for local welfare provision
you are waiting for adaptions to be made on your property because of a disability.

If any of these circumstances apply, then Housing Benefit may be awarded to you up to four weeks before you move in, at the discretion of your local council.