Rapid Reclaim

What is a Rapid Reclaim?

Rapid Reclaim is a streamlined reclaiming process for all those who reclaim Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance and Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit within 12 weeks of their previous entitlement to those benefits. It is a declaration by Jobcentre Plus that the person reapplying for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit has not had a change in their circumstances since that person's last entitlement to Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance. This means that the Council will not need to ask for further information to process the claim of the person reapplying. Rapid Reclaim has been introduced to encourage those not in work to try short term work.

What are the Qualifying Conditions for Rapid Reclaim?

• The person is reclaiming Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance at the same time as reapplying for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit.
• The person reclaiming benefit is doing so within 12 weeks of their last entitlement to benefit.
• The person is entitled to Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance and there have been no changes in their circumstances since their last entitlement to Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit.

How to Apply for Rapid Reclaim?

When a person reclaims Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance, Jobcentre Plus staff will identify those who will be eligible for Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance Rapid Reclaim and issue them with the appropriate claim pack.

Within the Rapid Reclaim pack is form HBRR1 that needs to be completed by those wishing to reclaim Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit. Once completed this form should be sent direct to the Council.

Jobcentre Plus staff will advise the Council whether Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance has been re-awarded and the date of entitlement.

What happens if HBRR1 is not competed correctly?

If HBRR1 is not completed correctly the Council will either return the form or send its own full-length application form.

If on checking the HBRR1 form the Council finds that the details are not the same as those previously held, then the Council will either write to the person reclaiming Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit for further information or send a full-length application form.

Where the Council finds that the last date of entitlement to Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit based on Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance is more than 12 weeks form the date of the Rapid Reclaim, a full-length application form will be issued. This also applies where no previous claim for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit exists