Stupid question alert.

Reg 30 says average weekly earning will be estimated by reference to an assessment period of up to a year (I paraphrase).

So if a client submits accounts showing average earnings of say £100 pw for 08/09 and gets his HB assessed on that basis what happens when he then submits his 09/10 accounts next year which show his earnings actually averaged £110 pw this year.

Is there an overpayment of HB?

I’ve read CH/329/2003 which talks about using different assessment periods when it is appropriate to do so but what about a case where it is reasonable to use the previous FY information but there is a small increase in earnings?

Or decrease for that matter.

All views gratefully received.

The crux is whether or not the £10 difference constitutes a change of circumstances.

If it can be (reasonably) shown there have been no increases in charges / hours and/or significant change(s) in the customer base, it may well be that the difference simply reflects a degree of fluctuation that does not count as a change of circumstances.

If there has not been a change of circs, there would be no grounds for HB/CTB to be revised / superseded.