When will my benefit claim start?

The date your benefit starts will depend on:

• the date you first contacted us to say you wanted to claim

• how old you are

Pension age customers

If you, or your partner are over 60 and qualify for housing benefit or council tax benefit we will start your claim from the date 3 months before you first contacted us to make your claim providing:

• we receive your claim within one calendar month of you contacting us and

• you are entitled to benefit for those 3 months

We will pay you this benefit automatically. You do not have to make a special request for it.

Working age customers

If you are under 60 and qualify for housing benefit and or council tax benefit we will normally pay your benefit from the Monday after you asked us for an application form (as long as you return the application form within one calendar month)

When you make a claim for housing benefit or council tax benefit over the phone through Jobcentre Plus, we will treat the date of your claim as the same date you contacted Jobcentre Plus.

Please note men aged between 60 and 64 are treated as working age customers, unless they have already claimed pension credit.

Backdating claims for working age customers

If you are of working age, sometimes benefit can be backdated from before the date you claimed, for up to six months. Backdating can only be considered if there is a good reason why your claim is late. These reasons must apply throughout the period want to claim backdated benefit for.

We may consider paying backdated benefit if:

• you were ill and had no-one to make the claim for you.

• you could not reasonably have been expected to know your rights, for example, where there have been changes in the law.

• you did not understand that you could claim, perhaps because of:
  • age;
  • inexperience;
  • language difficulties;
  • you were waiting for a decision about another benefit;
  • you were given the wrong advice by an official organisation who said you were not entitled to housing benefit or council tax benefit;
  • you were unable to manage your affairs and did not have someone to help you.

If you wish to claim backdated benefit please e-mail us at benefits@bury.gov.uk. Please tell us the date you wish to claim from and provide as much information as you can to help us to consider your claim.

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