Hi
I’ve queried this with the DWP, as circular A6 didn’t really cover this point.
They sent me a document for clarification, which included the relevant response :
“A person who is aged under 35 but over 25 living in a one bedroom self contained property and who claims Housing Benefit sometime between January and March 2011 would be entitled to the one bedroom self contained rate. This will apply until the anniversary date after 1st January 2012, from when transitional protection would apply for a further 9 months, at the end of which, the shared accommodation rate would apply”.
So in your example above, Jane, TP will be applied up to 1st Nov. 2012, and then the shared accommodation rate will come in to play after that, at the February 2012 rate (for 3 months, until the next anniversary date in Feb. 2013)
Hope that helps