When you made a claim for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit (or both), you signed a declaration that said you would let us know in writing about any change of circumstance for you or anyone living with you that could affect your claim. This leaflet explains what you should do if you think there has been a change of circumstance in your home.
We need to know about...
any changes in your circumstances which could affect the amount of benefit you are entitled to, for example:
- if you move home;
- if someone moves in or out of your home;
- if your income changes;
- if your rent changes;
- if you qualify for another benefit;
- if you stop getting Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance for any reason;
- if anyone living in your home has a change of circumstance.
This is not a full list. If you are not sure whether to tell us something, just ask us.
You can download a leaflet about change in circumstances by clicking on the link below:
Why you need to tell us immediately;
Any delay in telling us could seriously affect your benefit.
- You will have to repay any overpaid benefits if you delay or fail to tell us about a change in circumstance which causes your benefit to go down.
- If you delay in telling us about a change that will increase your benefit (such as a rent increase), then your benefit will only go up from the date you tell us, not the date the change actually happened.
How to tell us;
You can download a leaflet by clicking on the link at the top of this page.
Once you have completed all the sections on this leaflet, please return it to the Benefit Office. Our address is:
St Albans District Council Benefits Section
District Offices Civic Centre
St Peters Street
St Albans
Herts AL1 3JE
We will need proof of any changes;
For example:
- a letter from your landlord telling you of a change in your rent or a new tenancy agreement;
- your latest payslips or pension slips to show the new amount you get as wages, pension or pension credit;
- a letter from the Department of Works and Pensions or Inland Revenue showing changes in your allowances or tax credits;
- a letter from the Benefits Agency showing changes in your benefits.
We also need the same sort of proof of changes for other people who live with you.
If you cannot get proof immediately, for example, you have yet to receive a payslip from a new job, send the form and any documents you do have now and send any other proofs as soon as you can.
When sending us proof we need original documents, not copies. Either deliver the documents and form by hand, or send them to us. We will return any valuable documents to you by recorded delivery.
Date of last review: 26 August 2008