If I qualify when will I be paid from?

Housing and council tax benefit entitlement normally commences from the Monday following the date that you first indicated to the Council's Benefit Section, or any associated office, that you wished to claim housing and council tax benefit, provided that you then submitted your application within one month of that date of first contact.
However, if you apply during the week in which your tenancy or Council Tax liability starts then benefit will be paid from that date. It is important therefore to submit your application as soon as possible. Please don't wait until you have all of the supporting evidence that is required. For example you can submit your claim with 3 payslips even though 5 are requested. The remaining 2 can be submitted when they are available as long as that is within 4 weeks of submitting the original claim.