Housing Benefits - Change in Circumstances

If you or your tenant has been granted housing benefit or council tax benefit you must let the council know if your/their circumstances change.

You should tell us about the following changes:

• If your Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance/Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit stops
• If any other state benefits or allowances change
  You must tell us if you start or stop getting any state benefit or allowance, such as Incapacity Benefit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or Child Benefit.
• If you move house
  You must tell us the date you move into your new address
• If there are any changes in your income or earnings
  You must tell us about all changes in income and earnings for you and your husband, wife or partner
• If any of your children leave school
  You must tell us the date your child or children leave school.
• If your income from tenants or boarders changes
  You must tell us if the rent that you get from tenants or boarders changes.
• If someone leaves or joins your household
  You must tell us if a non-dependant (such as grown-up children and other adult relatives) moves into or out of your home. You must also tell us when a non-dependant starts or stops getting a state benefit i.e.: Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance or Incapacity Benefit.
• If your marital status changes
  You must tell us if you get married, divorced, or separated for your husband, wife or partner. You must also tell us if someone comes to live with you as your husband, wife or partner.
• If your rent changes (private tenants only)
  You must tell us if your rent goes up or down.
• If you are going into hospital
  You should immediately notify the Department for Work and Pensions.

If you do not tell the Council as soon as any of these changes happen you may be paid too much benefit. If you are paid too much, the Council will ask you to repay the Overpayment.