This is probably an easy question to answer, and have looked into this without going into the actual 'acts' but im still uncertain. i have a clt who is in remunerative work, though is on basic SSP and has been for 20 weeks.

There is a claim for CTB if the council treats the SSP as the average earnings for previous 5 weeks.

Clt is weekly paid.

Would the council use the previous 5 weeks on SSP or a more 'appropriate' period as the average?

I haven't assessed a claim for a long time - however I would have, and would still use the income that is currently being paid, so if claim was received last week I would request five weekly pay slips, normally I think most people provide what they have available and then provide the one for the week of the claim.

Therefore your clients CTB would be calculated on SSP depending when they put their claim form in.

Having said all that if a customer were to apply simply because they had gone onto SSP and could only provide two payslips to prove this - the claim could be assessed on an interim basis - and the customer would be given time to provide the other three.

I hope this helps.

HB/CTB will be assessed based on the income / cap covering the actual period those circumstances apply to (assuming this is not a 60+ claim / self-employed etc). It is also assumed that "Extended Payments" do not apply either.

For example, if your client makes a claim on the basis that s/he is receiving SSP, the Council will (normally) calculate the claim on that basis (taking into account all other income / cap etc).

However, if your client's income / circs changes, that change takes effect (normally) from the Monday after the first day of the period to which that change takes effect. There is no period of "grace". Your client is under a duty to inform the LA of changes in his/her circumstances (including the circs of partner / deps / non-deps etc), irrespective of whether or not s/he has separately informed the DWP / Inland Rev etc.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Ok thanks for the advice. Yea they are under 60, and havent claimed CTB yet, was going to rec it to them but wasnt sure(been in SSP for 20 weeks)

Thanks again everyone.