Latest updates
15 September 2008
Petition to the Prime Minister opposing the proposed changes to the timescale for benefit backdating
The following petition, submitted by a CAB adviser, is available
to sign at
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/backdating-bens/
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to stop the
intention to limit backdating of housing and council tax
benefits to 3 months.
Please retain the ability to backdate benefit claims for housing
benefit and council tax benefit up to 52 weeks.
Despite civil service views that most landlords begin to tackle
non-payment of rent within the first few weeks - my service
deals with people everyday for whom the ability to backdate
their claims 52 weeks, using 'good cause' is a life line.
In today's tightened finances it is vital that people are able
to claim as much housing and council tax benefits as possible.
Why would we seek to prevent someone claiming something which
they're legally entitled to, but for restrictions on claiming?
The need to show 'good cause' already prevents many from
accessing the full backdating and I cannot understand why the
Government would want to make it more restrictive.
This is not a rule we should be scrapping. These are the sort of
mean-spirited measures that play into the hands of those who
wish to portray the Government as having lost touch with
ordinary people, forgotten the needs of the poor and the reason
it sought Government in the first place.
Please stand up for those in desperate circumstances and retain
this backdating rule."
We have until 1st November 2008 to show our opposition to the changes in backdating. Please sign the petition if you believe that the period should remain as one year.