55.—(1) Except in cases where regulation 16 (disregard of changes in tax, contributions, etc) applies and subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), a change of circumstances which affects entitlement to, or the amount of, housing benefit (“change of circumstances”), shall take effect from the first day of the benefit week following the date on which the change actually occurs, and where that change is cessation of entitlement to any benefit under the benefit Acts(1), the date on which the change actually occurs shall be the day immediately following the last day of entitlement to that benefit.
(2) Where the change of circumstances is a change in the amount of a personal community charge of collective community charge contributions payable, it shall take effect from the day on which it actually occurs.
(3) Where the change of circumstances is an amendment to these Regulations, it shall take effect from the date on which the amendment to these Regulations comes into force.
(4) If two or more changes of circumstances occurring in the same benefit week would, but for this paragraph, take effect in different benefit weeks in accordance with paragraphs (1) to (3), they shall take effect from the first day of the benefit week in which they occur unless one of the changes is a change to which paragraphs (2) or (3) above refers, when they shall have effect from the day to which the relevant paragraph refers or, where more than one day is concerned, from the earlier day.
The benefit Acts are specified in section 84(1) of the Social Security Act 1986 (c. 50).