18.—(1) Where a local authority makes a determination in accordance with regulation 17 in the circumstances described in paragraph (2), it may not require any payment to be made until the date that a statement is provided in accordance with regulation 19.
(2) The circumstances referred to in paragraph (1) are where a service user—
(a)has been assessed as requiring a service for the first time; or
(b)is currently securing the provision of a service, but in respect of which service D is being required to pay towards the cost of its provision for the first time.
(3) Where a local authority makes a further determination as to D’s ability to pay in accordance with regulation 7(2), it may not require any payment to be made or alter the amount of any payment that is being made until the date that a statement is provided in accordance with regulation 19.
(4) Where the statement referred to in paragraphs (1) or (3) replaces a statement that has previously been provided in accordance with regulation 19 (“the earlier statement”) (“y datganiad cynharach”), the earlier statement will continue to have effect until the date the subsequent statement is provided.