Frequently Asked Questions

Question:

When will my benefit claim start and is it possible to get it backdated?

Answer:

All claims normally start from the Monday after initial contact with the office but there are a number of exceptions. If in doubt, always submit your claim as soon as possible and send in any proofs later or at least within a month.

It is also possible to backdate some claims - for example, pensioners typically will get an automatic 3 months' backdating and working age customers can claim up to 6 months' backdating provided they have a good reason for not applying earlier.

In general, the council will try to decide all claims within 14 days of receipt (provided you let us have all the evidence with your application form). If you need a quicker decision, ask at a council Customer Service Centre about a Golden Ticket, which could have a decision for you in just 48 hours.