Me and my partner split up a while ago and the kids eneded up coming to live with me because their mother was neglecting them and putting her new relationship first over their homelife and cleanliness. Ive bin going through court for full custody since june and have bin granted a permanent residence order till my kids are 16 years of age. I got my residence order on 28th july 2009 but child benefit has only just bin sorted and looks like its finaly being paid to me "saw that 33.20 had bin put into my account today", the thing is i wondered if id be paid from when i put my claim in ? My ex was still claiming income support and child benefit well after the court date that i got custody and i know now that her claim has stopped and she is getting JSA. Im still not claiming income support for my kids yet as i didnt even know anything about child benefit and was wondering if this also would be backdated from 28th july 2009 ? Im heavily into my overdraft as ive bought everything my kids need and havent had any financial support....any advice is greatly appreciated.