Time limits and backdating rules for Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit – equality impact assessment

In December 2007, the Government announced proposals to make the benefits system simpler. These include:

• reducing the time for claiming Pension Credit from 12 months to 3 months
• reducing the time for claiming Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit from 12 months to 3 months for people of Pension Credit age
• reducing the time claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit can be backdated from 52 weeks to 3 months for people who have not reached Pension Credit age.

Pension Credit age is currently 60. From 2010, the age will change in line with the change to women's State Pension age.

• The Equality Impact Assessment (108KB) considers the potential impact of the proposals on different groups and sets out the findings