Changes You Must Inform Us Of
If your circumstances change, you should tell us about the changes as soon as possible.
How do I tell you about The change?
Most changes must be notified in writing and backed up by evidence. Some examples are given below:
- If the change is due to starting work, you must complete a change of income form
- If you have moved address within our area, you must complete a change of address form
- If your wages or private pensions change, you must write to us and provide wage slips or pension slips showing the new amounts
Notification of changes by telephone
From 2 August 2010 you can notify the Council about some changes by telephone.
We can accept the following types of change in this way:
- Change of address outside the Borough
- If you no longer wish to claim
- If a partner moves in with you
- If a non-dependent moves in or moves out
- A death in the household
- The birth of a child (after registration)
- Changes to tax credits, Jobseekers' Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Pension Credit awards, Employment & Support Allowance
- Changes to the bank account we are paying benefit into.
What do I have to do when I telephone?
You will be asked a number of security questions in order to establish your identity and then details of the change will be taken. If you need to send in any documents we will tell you when you call.
Notification of changes by Email
From 2 August 2010 you will be able to notify us of changes by email.
If you want to contact us by email we will need to ensure that it is from a secure email address, which you will always use to contact us from.
You will need to complete an email contact form and return it to us. Benefit email contact form Once we have verified the email address we will contact you with details of how to send and receive emails securely.
What will happen if you do not tell us about the change?
If you do not tell us about a change of circumstances within one calendar month of the change, and the change could result in an increase in your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, you may lose out on the increase in benefit.
Similarly, if you do not tell us about changes in your circumstances, you may have to repay any Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit which you should not have received.
The following list gives examples of changes you need to tell us about:
- A change to where you live.
- A change to who lives with you.
- If you start work.
- A change in your wages, private pension or any other income you receive.
- A change to the amount of rent you pay.
- If you start or stop receiving Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance.
- If you start or stop receiving any other benefit.
- If your capital, such as savings and investments, alters.
- Temporary absence from home.
- People in your home starting or stopping work (including yourself)
- Child benefit ceasing.
This is not an exhaustive list, these are only examples of changes you need to tell us about.
If you are not sure whether a change will affect your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit – tell us anyway.
