Social Security Citation and commencement 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) ( No. 4) Regulations 2008 and shall come into force on 6th October 2008. Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 2 1 The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 are amended as follows. 2 After regulation 19(3)(h) (time for claiming benefit) add— i state pension credit. . 3 Paragraph 12 of Schedule 4 (prescribed time for claiming state pension credit) is omitted. Amendment of the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 3 1 The State Pension Credit Regulations 2002 shall be amended as follows. 2 For regulation 3 (persons temporarily absent from Great Britain) substitute— Persons temporarily absent from Great Britain 3 A claimant’s entitlement to state pension credit during periods of temporary absence from Great Britain is to continue for up to 13 weeks if— a the period of the claimant’s absence from Great Britain is unlikely to exceed 52 weeks; and b while absent from Great Britain the claimant continues to satisfy the other conditions of entitlement to state pension credit. . 3 After regulation 3 insert— Persons temporarily absent from Great Britain on 6th October 2008 3A Where a claimant— a is already temporarily absent from Great Britain on 6th October 2008; b had a continuing entitlement to state pension credit immediately before that day; and c while absent from Great Britain, continues to satisfy the other conditions of entitlement to state pension credit, the claimant’s entitlement to state pension credit is to continue during that period of absence from Great Britain for up to 13 weeks. . 4 In regulation 5 (persons treated as being or not being members of the same household)— a for paragraph (1)(f) substitute— f he is absent from Great Britain for more than 13 weeks; ; and b omit paragraph (3). 5 In paragraph 1(8) of Schedule III (special groups: polygamous marriages) after “regulations” omit “3”. Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 4 1 The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 are amended as follows. 2 In regulation 83(12)(b) (time and manner in which claims are to be made), for “the day 52 weeks” substitute “the day 6 months”. Amendment of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 5 1 The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 are amended as follows. 2 In regulation 64(1) (time and manner in which claims are to be made), for “twelve months” substitute “three months”. 3 In regulation 64(13)(b), for “the day 52 weeks” substitute “the day 3 months”. Amendment of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 6 1 The Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 are amended as follows. 2 In regulation 69(14)(b) (time and manner in which claims are to be made), for “the day 52 weeks” substitute “the day 6 months”. Amendment of the Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 7 1 The Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 are amended as follows. 2 In regulation 53(13)(b) (time and manner in which claims are to be made) for “the day 52 weeks” substitute “the day 3 months”. 3 In regulation 56 (time for claiming council tax benefit) for “12 months” substitute “3 months”. Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Stephen C.Timms Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions 10th September 2008