Housing Benefit
What if there is a change of circumstances?
All changes of circumstances must be reported to the Benefits Office immediately.
It is now a criminal offence not to report a change.
Examples of changes that must be notified include:
- change of address
- change in income or savings
- Income Support / Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based) starts or stops
- dependent children leave school
- someone else comes to live in the household
- rent changes.
Claimants can call in person at the Customer Contact Centre to report a change, but all notifications must be made in writing.
The responsibility to inform the Council of a change in circumstances lies with your tenant, but if you are aware of a change that may affect your tenant's Housing Benefit the Council would like to hear from you. Some change in circumstances can mean the tenant is entitled to more benefit.
If you receive direct payment of a tenant's benefit entitlement it is your duty under the regulations to report any change in circumstances that could affect entitlement.
