About backdating
Your Council Tax Support will usually start from the Monday after we receive your application. In some circumstances we may be able to award Council tax Support from an earlier date than the date of your claim. The rules vary depending on whether you are of working age or pension age.
Reasons for backdating a claim
We can only backdate your claim if there is a good reason for us to do so as you are expected to claim support as soon as you need it.
Demonstrating a good reason for us to backdate you claim is called showing ‘good cause’- for example:
- You were ill/ in hospital
- You were too ill to make a claim and no-one else could do it on your behalf
- You have suffered a recent family bereavement
Working age
We can only backdate your award for up to one month. You must ask us to do so and you must show ‘good cause’
Pension age
We can backdate your award for up to 13 weeks and we will automatically do so if we can.
Disagreeing with our decision
If we decide that we can’t backdate your award, then you can make an appeal by following the process on our appeals and disputes page.
