Understanding your benefit entitlement

We use the amount of income your household gets to work out your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support.

If your income changes often, we will use an average amount.  This may happen if you work different hours each week. National insurance, tax and half of any pension contributions are taken out of your gross earnings to get a net amount.

You can check the income we used to assess your claim on:

• MyHarrow Account
• Your decision notification letter

If you think  the amount of income we have used to assess your claim is wrong, you can submit a dispute. To support your dispute you will need to send us proof of your income, savings, other benefits or other income.

Non-dependants are any adults living in your household other than your partner. We may deduct a set amount from your weekly benefit entitlement. This is called a non-dependant deduction. The amount deducted depends on the non-dependant’s income and other matters. Find out more about non-dependant deductions. 

You can check if there is a non-dependant deduction on your claim and the amount on:

• MyHarrow Account
• Your decision notification letter

If you think the  deduction is wrong, you can submit a dispute. You will need to provide proof of their income, status, or benefits.

Sometimes the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) inform us of a change to your benefits.

When we get this information we reassess your claim .The change may mean that you are entitled to more or less Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support. It can also mean that you are no longer entitled to it.

It is your responsibility to tell us about any changes to your circumstances. This includes  any changes to benefits you get from the DWP. This ensures that you receive the correct amount.

You can check the information we used to assess your claim on:

• MyHarrow Account
• Your decision notification letter

If you believe the benefits we have used to calculate your claim is incorrect, you will need to contact the DWP. You will need to let us know if they make a change to your benefits by completing the change in circumstance form.

The amount of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support you receive can change if you are overpaid.

An overpayment can happen if we're told of a change in circumstances after it  has taken place.

If you are overpaid we will send you a letter. The letter will tell you how much you were overpaid, and why. You can also  view details about an overpayment on MyHarrow Account. 

If you disagree with an overpayment you can submit a dispute

Repayments and deductions

If your housing benefit has ended, then you will need to repay the overpaid amount. For details, see Housing Benefit Overpayments.

If you still get housing benefit, deductions will be taken from ongoing payments until the overpaid amount is settled. The amount that will be taken will be shown on your decision notification letter.

This will mean that the amount of Housing Benefit you receive will be less than you previously received. If there is a difference between the amount of Housing Benefit you receive and your rent, you are responsible to pay the shortfall. 

The Benefit Cap is a limit to the total amount of benefits a household can get. If the amount that you get is above the Benefit Cap, your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit will be reduced until your combined benefits are within the limits. To check if your household is above the limit, use the Benefit Cap calculator. 

You can also check the information we used to assess your claim on:

• MyHarrow Account
• Your decision notification letter

Find our more about the Benefit Cap.

When you tell us about a change to your household or personal circumstances we will assess your claim based on your new circumstances.

The change in your circumstances could mean that you are entitled to more or less benefit. It can also mean that you are no longer entitled to benefits. For example if you start work or have an increase in your income your entitlement may reduce.

You can check the information we used to assess your claim on:

• MyHarrow Account
• Your decision notification letter

If you disagree with information that we have used to calculate your claim, you can submit a dispute. To support your dispute you will need to provide proof of your current circumstances.