Current claim for housing and council tax benefit
When will you be paid from?
Benefit is generally paid from the Monday following receipt of your application form. However, if you hand in your form during the same week (Monday to Sunday) that you move into your property, then you will be paid from when you moved in.
If you are in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-based), Income Support or Guaranteed Pension Credit, then you can receive benefit from the date that you moved in, if you make your claim within four weeks of moving in.
Otherwise, you can ask for your benefit to be ‘backdated’ for a maximum of 26 weeks (13 weeks if you are a pensioner) before the date that you make your claim.
For the delay in claiming you will need to show ‘good cause’ e.g. that you were severely unwell or submit medical evidence to show that you needed someone to help you with your form, before any backdated benefit will be awarded.
How will my benefit be paid?
Council tax benefit and second adult rebate are paid direct to your council tax account. If your council tax account is in credit, you can apply for a refund. Housing benefit for council tenants is paid direct to their rent accounts.
Tenants of registered social landlords or private landlords can have their benefit paid directly to them by bank transfer or on request into their landlords bank account. If you are more than eight weeks behind with your rent, benefit may be paid to your landlord even if you ask for it to be paid to you.
You can check your benefit details online
You can check your council tax benefit and/or housing benefit account details online - by signing up for a 'My account' and registering for the 'housing and council tax benefit service'.
Page last updated: 06/06/2011
