Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Council Tax Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 1997 (S.I.1997/1841) (“the principal Regulations”) by providing that the Regulations which limit the maximum amount of council tax benefit or alternative maximum council tax benefit to which a person may be entitled where the dwelling in which he resides falls within any of the valuation bands F to H to which section 5 or 74 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c. 14) refers, shall not have effect where that person is entitled to council tax benefit on 31st March 1998, for so long as that person is continuously entitled to that benefit in respect of his residence in the dwelling in which he was residing on 31st March 1998.

The principal Regulations shall also not have effect where the person referred to above ceases to be entitled to council tax benefit and his partner, who was resident in the dwelling concerned on 31st March 1998 and has remained continuously so resident since, becomes personally entitled to council tax benefit not more than 12 weeks after the original entitlement to that benefit ceased.

Provision is made for linking periods of entitlement to council tax benefit which are separated by not more than 12 weeks.

These Regulations do not impose a charge upon businesses.