71.—(1) Without prejudice to any other method of recovery a relevant authority may recover any recoverable excess benefit F1... by any of the methods specified in paragraph (2) and (3) or any combination of those methods.
(2) Excess benefit may be recovered F2...—
(a)by payment by or on behalf of the [F3claimant or the person to whom the excess benefit was allowed]; or
(b)by an addition being made by the relevant authority to any amount payable in respect of the council tax concerned.
[F4(3) Where recoverable excess benefit cannot be recovered by either of the methods specified in paragraph (2), the relevant authority may request the Secretary of State to recover the outstanding excess—
(a)from the benefits prescribed in regulation 75(1); or
(b)where the claimant has one or more partners, from the benefits prescribed in regulation [F575(1B)], provided that the claimant and that partner were a couple both at the time the excess benefit was allowed and when the deduction is made.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in reg. 71(1) omitted (6.4.2009) by virtue of The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2824), regs. 1(2), 7(3)(a)
F2Word in reg. 71(2) omitted (6.4.2009) by virtue of The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2824), regs. 1(2), 7(3)(b)(i)
F3Words in reg. 71(2) substituted (6.4.2009) by The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2824), regs. 1(2), 7(3)(b)(ii)
F4Reg. 71(3) substituted (6.4.2009) by The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2824), regs. 1(2), 7(3)(c)
F5Word in reg. 71(3)(b) substituted (1.4.2012) by The Social Security (Recovery) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/645), regs. 1(1), 4(2)