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Housing Benefit - Change Of Circumstances

What happens if my circumstances change?

It is very important that you let us know immediately if you have a change in your circumstances as you may receive too little or too much benefit.

It is an offence not to tell us about any change of circumstance that affects your benefit.We may take court action against you and if we pay you too much Benefit, you will probably have to pay it back.

You can tell us about any changes by writing to The Benefit Section at the address below. It is important that you provide details of the change, the date that the change occurred and proof where appropriate.   

 Examples of the types of changes that you need to report are as follows:

If you change your address.
If your rent changes (private tenants only).
If you or your partner go into hospital.
If you or your partner's income or savings increase or decrease.
Including:
If Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance stops.
Starting work or changing your employer.
If the amount or type of state benefit changes.
If wages increase or decrease.
If private pension increases.
If a tax credit is awarded or the amount of award changes.
Changes affecting people who live with you including:
If someone comes to live with you or if someone leaves your household.
If the income or circumstances of someone living with you change (e.g. they start work or their Income Support ends). 
If you stop getting child benefit for someone.

This list only provides some examples of the type of changes that may occur and is not exhaustive and it is important  that you check with The Benefit Section on the telephone number below if you are unsure if a change will affect your entitlement to Housing Benefit. 

I have started work what do I need to do?

If you are receiving Income Support or Income Based Jobseekers Allowance then you should notify the date that you started work to the Benefit Section as well as the Department For Works And Pension .

Extended Payments.

If you have been on Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance,Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance for 26 weeks or more, immediately before starting work you may be entitled to an Extended Payment of Housing/ Council Tax Benefit.

This means that for the first 4 weeks after you start work you will continue to receive the same amount of Housing and Council Tax Benefit that was in payment before starting work.

HELP US TO HELP YOU! REPORT ALL CHANGES PROMPTLY