Changes to Backdating of Benefits for over 60's

suelees1

Im not sure whether anyone's posted about this before but the government in it's infinite wisdom is changing the backdating rules for Pension Credit, Housing and Council Tax Benefit from April 2008.

Until then they'll continue to automatically award 52 weeks without claimants having to prove 'good cause' for late claims. This current rule is really good for the over 60's as a lot of these claimants who only realised later that they were entitled to these benefits have been able to get a nice lump sum of arrears paid to them.

The govt's excuse in limiting this to three months is that it will be less intrusive as they won't have to ask this group of claimants about savings or income over the past year.

What a feeble excuse.

lucia15

Its about time. This was just a Labour scheme to capture the grey vote. I see no reason as to why the rules should be any different for people over 60. Processing these claims is a nightmare and it is basically giving away free money which eventually ends up as the pensioner's kids' inheritance because the majority of them just leave it in the bank.

bigbill

I think you will find that this backdating change does not happen until October 2008.

dmg24

I do think that this is a fair move.

The prior rule seems to make an assumption about those over sixty, which when you consider that many people up to seventy (and beyond!) are still actively in employment, is actually quite patronising!

My dad is over sixty, and my mum will be sixty this year (sorry mum!). They are probably better organised with their finances and more knowledgeable than people half their age!

tezza1976

hello i need advise please ,this is the first time i have wrote to this site but i could not find a post near the subject . The problem is we have a daughter living with us she is 31yrs she has moderate to severe learning difficulties,i am her main carer plus i work has a carer for the local council,only last year i was told that we could claim a rebate off our council tax ,so i applied and was given 25% off ,my question could i claim back dated monies ?she has allways lived at home apart from going to a residential college ,not that we are greedy but monies are tight my hours i can work are reduced because i need to be here for her ,