If you think you may be entitled to local housing allowance, you should claim as soon as possible. In some circumstances
you may be able to request for your claim to be backdated.
If
a claim is backdated prior to 7 April 2008, the eligible rent will be
calculated using the 'old' housing benefit rules, as this was prior to the local housing allowance being introduced. If your claim is backdated prior to 7 April 2008, you may be entitled to less housing benefit.
As of 6th
October 2008, you can backdate your LHA claim for up to maximum of 6 months if you
had "continuous good cause" for not making a claim during a period in which
you were entitled to it.
Prior to 6th
October 2008, you could have requested for your entitlement to be backdated for
up to 52 weeks.
"Good cause" does
not have a firm definition. The Housing Executive may accept your state of
health or unfamiliarity with the benefit system as "good cause" and must
examine all relevant evidence in your case before they reach a decision.
If you are over 60
and you failed to claim during a period in which you were entitled to claim local
housing allowance, you will be able to get your claim backdated without having
to show "good cause".
Remember, if your
claim is backdated to before 7 April 2008, you will not be assessed under the local
housing allowance rules, but under the pre-existing housing benefit rules.
Once
you are awarded local housing allowance, the rate you are entitled to will generally apply
for a year. At
the end of the year, your rate will be reviewed.
However, you may become entitled to a different LHA rate within this period if your circumstances change. This may happen if:
an additional bedroom is needed due to having a new baby or adopting a child
a child turns 16 and needs his/her own room
a person in the household dies or someone moves in with you
you move to a new private tenancy.
You should notify the Housing Executive as soon as your circumstances change. If you don't, you may loose out on a higher rate, or you may be liable to pay overpayments. It is important to keep your claim up to date .
