What if My Circumstances Change?

You should tell us straight away if your circumstances change so that we can amend your benefit. 

You can do this via our online Benefit Change in Circumstances form

or you can contact the housing benefit department.

We will contact you if we need any further information or supporting documents (we will still only accept original documents, not scanned images or photocopies).

What Changes Should I Report?

You need to tell us about any of the following:

• Changes in your household income and your capital
• If someone joins or leaves your household as soon as this happens
• If you or someone in your household goes into hospital or a nursing home 
• If you are moving (do not rely on your landlord telling us, it is your responsibility)

You could lose benefit if you delay in telling us about any changes which mean you get more housing benefit or council tax benefit, such as your pay going down, the birth of a baby or someone in your household losing their job.

If you delay or fail to tell us about a change which would reduce your housing benefit or council tax benefit you may be overpaid, and we can ask you to pay it back. You could even face prosecution.

Other Agencies

Please do not rely on other agencies such as the JobCentre Plus or HM Revenue and Customs to notify us of any changes you have reported to them. It is your responsibility to keep us informed of any change in circumstances that may affect your claim. If in doubt contact the housing benefit department.

If you are receiving Pension Credits you should contact the Pension, Disability and Carer's Service if you need to report a change in your income or capital. The Pension Disability and Carers service will then work out if this change affects your entitlement or not.