The Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

Date on which entitlement is to commence

74.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a person who makes a claim and is otherwise entitled to housing benefit shall be entitled to that benefit from the benefit week following the date on which his claim is or is treated as made.

(2) Where a claimant is otherwise entitled to housing benefit and becomes liable, for the first time, to make payments in respect of the dwelling which he occupies as his home in the benefit week in which his claim is or is treated as made, he shall be so entitled from that benefit week.

(3) A claimant shall become entitled to housing benefit from the benefit week in which the first day in respect of which his claim is made falls, where—

(a) he is otherwise entitled to housing benefit;

(b) paragraph (2) does not apply to him; and

(c) he becomes liable in that benefit week to make payments, which fall due on a daily basis, in respect of a hostel which he occupies as his home.