What happens if I forget or don't tell you about a change in my circumstances?

You should tell the Benefits office in writing if you have any change.

If you do not tell us and the change means you will get more Benefit we can only pay you the extra money from the Monday after you tell us. You will lose out.

If the change means you get less money your claim will be assessed from the date of the change. You will have a recoverable overpayment and this means you will have to pay us money back.

If you do not tell us and we find out this may be treated as Benefit Fraud.

What is Benefit Fraud?

Benefit Fraud is where people claim any benefit including Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit they are not entitled to by giving false information or not telling us when their circumstances change.

People who deliberately claim benefit when they are not entitled to it are committing a criminal offence.

Any person who makes a false statement or produces a false document in order to obtain benefit is committing a criminal offence that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Any person who fails to notify the Council of a change of circumstances in order to continue to receive benefit is committing a criminal offence that is punishable by up to 7 years in prison.

Types of Benefit Fraud

Some examples of Benefit Fraud are where people:

• work but do not declare this when they claim benefit
• claim as a single person but actually live with a partner
• claim from an address, but do not actually live there
• do not tell us the full amount of income, savings or capital when they claim benefit
• do not report a change of circumstances whilst receiving benefit
• do not declare an occupational or works pension.