Tell us about a change in your circumstances

After you have reported a change

This page includes information on:

What happens after you have reported a change

  • We aim to deal with your change and issue you with a response within 15 working days. 

If you report your change of circumstance using the online form, we will email you within 24 hours. It will confirm:

  • that your application has been received
  • whether you need to provide any documents

How to provide documents

If we wrote to you to request any documents, please:

  • read the contents of the letter carefully
  • make sure that you provide all of the documents we requested
  • upload the documents via evidence upload form

This will help us process you application as quickly as possible.

You can submit the documents by post to Harrow Council, Housing Benefit, PO Box 730, Harrow, HA3 3RF.

You can also submit documents at Greenhill Library where staff are available to help if you need a hand using the self-scanners.

Greenhill Library

Perceval Square

College Road

Harrow

HA1 1GX

Using these channels will ensure your documents are quickly matched to your claim.

You will need to write your claim reference number (a 7-digit number) on any documents provided.

For guidance on the types of evidence we will accept see the providing evidence for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support page.

If you cannot provide the evidence required on time, please contact us using the Benefits General Enquiry form

When and how you will receive a decision on your claim

We aim to assess your claim within four weeks of you reporting a change. When we have assessed your application we will send you a letter to let you know:

  • how much Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support you will receive
  • the information we used to assess your change of circumstances

If you qualify for Council Tax Support or Second Adult Rebate we will add your entitlement to your council tax bill and send you a revised bill. You will then need to pay according to the new bill.

If you were receiving Council Tax Support and your entitlement has changed you will receive a revised council tax bill.

You will be able to view your new entitlement and council tax bill when you log into your MyHarrow Account. To access the information on your council tax account, you will need to link your council tax account to your MyHarrow Account. If you need help to link your account follow the steps on the MyHarrow Account help page.

How to check the progress of your claim

If you would like to check the progress of your application please sign in to your MyHarrow Account.  You will be able to view the stage of your claim, plus any letter we may have sent you. If you sign up for email notifications you will receive an email to inform you when we have made a decision on your claim. Please do not contact us to check the progress of your application until after the 4-week period has passed. This will enable us to process your application more quickly.

Changes in your entitlement

When you report a change in circumstance the amount of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support you are entitled to may increase or reduce.

If your entitlement has changed and you need help to understand the reason see the changes to my benefit entitlement page.

If you need help to understand how your benefit was calculated you can use our guide to help you to understand your benefit entitlement and letters.

What to do if you disagree with your entitlement

If you disagree with your Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support entitlement you can submit a dispute.

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support overpayments

It is important that you tell us about a change in your circumstance at the time the change has taken place or as soon as possible. This will help you to receive the correct amount of benefit and to avoid receiving an overpayment. 

If you are overpaid Housing Benefit and/ or Council Tax Support you will have to pay the amount you have been overpaid back. There are no time limits on how far back we can go to reclaim the overpayment.

Some changes in circumstance may mean the amount of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support you are entitled to will be reduced.  If you don’t tell us about the change there is a chance you will be paid too much Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support. If this happens you’ll have to pay back the difference – see our overpayments page. There are no time limits on how far back the benefits service can go to reclaim overpayments.

Reviewing your housing benefit application

We take steps to identify changes that haven’t been reported to us. If we are informed of changes that will reduce your entitlement to Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support, you will have to pay back the overpayment.