You should always make your claim for benefit as soon as you need to. Unless you receive Pension Credit your benefit will normally start from the Monday following the date you make your claim.

From 6 October 2008 the backdating rules have changed:

• For Pension Age Claimants (people over 60), the time limit for claiming Pension Credits and Benefits has been reduced from 52 weeks to 3 months.

• For Working Age Claimants (people under 60) there is now a reduction in the period a claim can be backdated. Claims can only be backdated for a period of 6 months. This was previously 52 weeks.

For more information on the above, please click on the link below:

Who Can Apply and How (People Under 60)