What is a change in circumstances for housing benefit and council tax benefit purposes?
For Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit purposes a change in circumstances happens when: -
Someone moves into or out of your home.
Any of your children leave school or leave home.
Your income or the income of anyone living with you changes
(this includes any benefits such as State Retirement Pension or Incapacity Benefit)Your capital or savings change.
You or anyone living with you becomes a student, goes into hospital or a nursing home, goes into prison, or goes onto a Youth Training Scheme.
You or anyone that lives with you gets a job.
You or anyone that lives with you changes job.
You or anyone that lives with you leaves a job.
Your rent changes.
You move house.
Anything else changes that you have not already told us about that may affect your benefit.
Rules from the 2nd July 2001
You must tell us about changes in your circumstances as soon as they happen, otherwise you may lose out on any increase in your entitlement to benefit.
You must provide us with details of the change (when and how did it change) and send us proof to confirm what you tell us.
You must tell us about any changes in writing - a phone call is not enough.
If the change in your circumstances means that your benefit goes down, you may have been overpaid benefit and therefore may have to pay it back.
When do I need to inform the Benefit Section that my circumstances have changed?
If you tell us about a change that means your benefit will go down, we will amend your benefit from the Monday after the change in your circumstances happened.
If the change in your circumstances means that your entitlement goes up, the date you tell us about the change will be very important.
If you tell us about a change that will increase the amount of benefit you receive within one month of it happening, we will amend your benefit from the time the change happened, as long as you send us proof.
If you leave it longer than a month to tell us you have had a change in circumstances which entitles you to be granted more benefit, we will only amend your benefit from the Monday after we get the information from you in writing, as long as you send us proof.
Further Advice & Information
If you need further advice or information, please contact South Shropshire District Council, Revenue Services, Benefit Section, Stone House, Corve Street, Ludlow, SY8 1DG.
You can telephone us on 01584 813150 or 01584 813151 or come to our enquiry counter at the above address (you don't need an appointment). We are open from 8.40am to 5.15pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9.30am to 5.15pm on Tuesday and 8.40am to 4.30pm on a Friday.
If you would like someone to visit you at home, please contact the Visiting Team on Telephone 01584 813314.
Alternatively, you can e-mail us at benefits@southshropshire.gov.uk
This Information is also available in large print, Braille and audio cassette on request.
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