This chapter covers general rules on claims and backdating. See the chapter about the benefit you are claiming for the specific rules for that benefit. This chapter does not cover rules for Scottish benefits (see Chapter 68), statutory sick pay (see Chapter 35), statutory payments (see Chapter 34), social fund budgeting loans (see here), health benefits (see Chapter 27), the other payments in Chapter 36 or discretionary housing payments (see Chapter 25). Generally, rules for housing benefit (HB) are not covered (see Chapter 10), although the national insurance number requirement described in this chapter also applies to HB.