Regulation 57 Benefit periodI1
England, Wales and Scotland
Where a person is entitled to council tax benefit the appropriate authority shall make an award for a specified period (“the benefit period”) commencing with—
the first benefit week in respect of which he is so entitled; or if later
the benefit week in which the claim is received at the designated office.
The benefit period shall be such number of benefit weeks as the appropriate authority shall determine having regard in particular to any relevant circumstances which the appropriate authority reasonably expects may affect entitlement in the future.
Subject to paragraph (4), the benefit period shall not exceed 60 benefit weeks.
Where a claimant either is on income support or, although not in receipt thereof, has included in the calculation of his applicable amount the disability premium, the severe disability premium or the higher pensioner premium, and a claim for a further award of council tax benefit has not been made by the last benefit week of his benefit period, the appropriate authority may extend the current benefit period by not more than 4 benefit weeks.