Telling the council about changes in circumstances

Once you start receiving Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, and/or Second Adult Rebate, you must tell us about any changes that happen to you and/or the people living with you as they may affect the amount of benefit you are entitled to. Even small changes may effect how much we can pay you.

You must tell us of this change in writing or in person. You can also use the online change of circumstances form to tell us about a change.

You should not rely on someone else (like your landlord, the Job Centre or a friend) to tell us about a change affecting you or the other people living with you.

Examples of changes you need to tell us about

  • if your Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance stops
  • if you move home or change address
  • if there is a change in your income or benefits, or in the income or benefits of anyone else living with you
  • if anyone moves in or out of your home
  • if anyone comes to stay with you (even for a short time)
  • if you start work, or your hours change
  • if you claim any other benefit (including Income Support and Job Seekers Allowance)
  • if your capital/savings increase (unless they remain under £6,000)
  • you stop receiving Child Benefit for your child
  • your child stops or starts being a student
  • if you are going to be away from home for a period of time

These are only some examples of what you need to tell us about. If you are not sure if a change might affect your benefit, you should contact us for more information.

Delay in telling us of a change in your circumstances can lead to loss of benefit and may also leave you with an overpayment of benefit, which you may have to pay back.

You may be prosecuted if you deliberately give us false information or fail to tell us of a change in your circumstances in order to get more benefit than you have a right to receive.

How to tell us about the change

You can use the online change in circumstances form to tell us about the change, or you can complete one of the forms below and return it to the Revenues and Benefits Service.