Change of circumstance forms
What do I need to do if my circumstances change?
If you are receiving benefit you must tell us straight away if your circumstances change.
We also need to know if the circumstances of anyone living with you change.
It is an offence not to tell us about any changes that may affect your benefit.
We may take court action against you and if we pay you too much benefit, you will probably have to pay it back.
You must tell us if:
- any of your children leave school or leave home
- anyone moves into or out of your home (including lodgers and sub-tenants)
- your income or the income of anyone living with you changes, including changes to benefits
- your capital or savings change
- you or anyone living with you
- becomes a student
- goes on a youth training scheme
- goes into hospital or a nursing home
- goes into prison
- changes or leaves a job
- your rent changes
- you move
- you or your partner are going to be away from home for more than a month
- you or anyone living with you starts work
- you receive any decision from the Home Office
This is not a full list. If you are not sure, ask us for advice.
What happens after you report a change in circumstance
What happens if your benefits increase
We will amend your benefit from the Monday after the change happened if you tell us within one month of the change happening. If you tell us late, your benefit will only be amended from the Monday after you tell us.
What happens if your benefits decrease
We will amend your benefit from the Monday after the change happened. If you delay in telling us about the change, you will be responsible for any overpayment.
Report a change of circumstances
Discretionary housing payments (DHP's)
We may be able to help with your rent, if it is not met in full by Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit.
We are unable to award DHP’s to cover your Council Tax or with costs included in your rent for fuel, water or food charges.
The amount and length of a DHP award will depend on your personal circumstances. We look at all cases individually.
The DHP fund is cash limited, so we may only be able to pay you for short periods. The payment of a DHP is only meant to give you short-term financial help.
It's purpose is to allow you to improve your circumstances or to move to cheaper accommodation.
Apply for discretionary housing payment
Housing benefit and/or council tax support rapid reclaim
Use the rapid re-claim form if you have claimed housing benefit or council tax support at the same address within the last 26 weeks.
Use the form below if you are applying at a new address or your previous application was over 26 weeks ago.
Apply for housing benefit and council tax support
Housing benefit and council tax support change of address
Let us know if you are changing your address.
What happens if I need to move before my old tenancy has ended?
If you are moving from one rented property to another, you might be able to get housing benefit on both properties for up to four weeks.
This would help you pay for any notice period required on the old property.
To qualify for payments on two homes, you need to have moved into your new property, ideally at the start of the new tenancy and to tell us:
- why you had to move to your new address before your old tenancy ended
- why the overlapping charge for rent on both properties could not have been avoided
You can do this by completing our overlapping tenancy application e-form