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 67), statutory sick pay (see Chapter 34), statutory payments (see Chapter 33), social fund budgeting loans (see here), health benefits (see Chapter 26), the other payments in Chapter 35 or discretionary housing payments (see Chapter 24). Generally, rules for housing benefit (HB) are not covered (see Chapter 9), although the national insurance number requirement described in this chapter also applies to HB.