These Regulations further amend the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1971) (the “Housing Benefit Regulations”) and the Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/1814) (the “Council Tax Benefit Regulations”).

Regulations 2 and 6 define “gateway office” for the purposes of housing benefit and council tax benefit respectively.

Regulations 3 and 7 make provision for claimants of housing benefit or council tax benefit respectively to send or deliver claims for those benefits to a gateway office.

Regulations 4 and 8 insert a new regulation into the Housing Benefit Regulations and Council Tax Benefit Regulations respectively, which makes provision as to the date on which a claim sent or delivered to a gateway office shall be treated as made.

Regulations 5 and 9 enable a housing benefit or council tax benefit claimant who has sent or delivered a claim to a gateway office to report a change of circumstances to that office, or any other gateway office of which he has been notified.

Regulation 10 amends the Schedule to the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 1999 (1999/920) by the addition of a further authority to the list of authorities contained in that Schedule.

These Regulations do not impose a charge on business.