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18.—(1) Long-term compensation shall be payable with effect from the date of the claim or from any earlier date permitted by the succeeding provisions of this regulation.
(2) Where a claim for long-term compensation is duly made within 13 weeks of the occurrence of the loss or diminution which is the cause of the claim, or within 13 weeks of the coming into operation of these regulations whichever is the later, the award shall be made retrospective to the date on which the loss or diminution occurred.
(3) Where a claim for long-term compensation is made after the expiry of the period mentioned in paragraph (2), the award may, at the discretion of the compensating authority, be made retrospective to a date not earlier than 13 weeks prior to the date on which the claim was made: