MRAssociates — Glossary

This is the date from which a benefit decision takes effect. It is not usually the same as the date on which the decision is made (“date of decision”). The reasons why these dates are different include:

• If there is a delay making a decision on a claim, the claimant is awarded benefit from the date of the claim, not from the date of the decision
• If a change of circumstance only comes to the attention of the benefit decision maker some time after it happened, benefit might be adjusted back to the date when the change occurred (especially if the change is disadvantageous)
• Sometimes a claim can be backdated so that the claimant receives benefit from a date earlier than the one on which the claim is made