The Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987

Who is to make a determination

76.—(1) Unless provided otherwise by these Regulations, any matter required to be determined under these Regulations shall be determined in the first instance by the appropriate authority.

(2) An authority shall be under no duty to determine a claim–

(a) where the claim has not been made in accordance with regulation 72(1) (time and manner in which claims are to be made) or treated as so made by virtue of regulation 72(8);

(b) where the claimant has failed to satisfy the provisions of regulation 73 (evidence and information);

(c) where the claim has been or is treated as withdrawn under regulation 74 (amendment and withdrawal of claim);

(d) made more than 13 benefit weeks prior to the expiry of the claimant’s current benefit period.

(3) Every claim shall be determined by the appropriate authority within 14 days of the provisions of regulations 72 and 73 being satisfied or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.