Backdated Benefits and Reductions

Housing Benefit is normally awarded from the Monday following the day your claim is received by the Benefit Service at East Herts Council.

However, the law allows us to award Benefit from an earlier date if you have a good reason (good cause) for not applying earlier.

We can only backdate your Housing Benefit up to one month and your Council Tax Support up to six months from the date you ask us to, and you must give a good reason why this should be done.

If you or your partner have reached pension credit age, your claim covers any period in the three months before the day the claim is actually received (but only back to the day you reached pension credit age, or the day you became liable for rent or Council Tax, if these are later).

To make a claim for backdated Housing Benefit please visit our forms page and select the Backdated Benefits Reduction Form.  

We will write to you within 14 days of you successfully filling in the form. If your claim is refused, details of how to appeal will be sent to you.

Pension Credit 

  • Do you know someone of State Pension age (aged 66 years or older) who is on a low income and would welcome extra money and support with heating costs? This could be your customers, service users, a parent, grandparent, friend or neighbour. 
  • Pension Credit is worth on average £3,900 per year and unlocks additional support including Winter Fuel Payments, help with Council Tax, NHS dental care and, for those over 75, a free TV licence. 
  • Due to the Pension Credit backdating rules, it is possible to apply for Pension Credit and have the claim backdated by up to 3 months as long as there is entitlement during that time. This means that the latest date to apply and still qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment is 21 December 2024. 

Find out more on GOV.UK. 
 

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