Change of Circumstances

If your circumstances change you must tell us about it straight away as this could affect the amount of benefit that you are entitled to.

The time limit for reporting a change in circumstance is one calendar month from the date of change. If you are late in reporting the change in your circumstances you could lose benefit.

Here are some of the changes that you should tell us about:

changes to your income or the income for anyone who lives with you
someone moving in or out of your house
if you move address (this includes moving flats or rooms in the same building)
your Tax Credit changes
any of your children leave school
if you or your partner stop receiving Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or Pension Credit
changes to the amount of rent that you are charged

These are only examples of the changes you need to tell us about; it is not a full list.

If you are not sure if you need to tell us about the change or need to know how your benefit will be affected by a change; contact us.

How do I notify you about a change?

Changes in circumstance can be notified in a number of ways:-
on line
in person at the Customer Services Centre or any neighbourhood office
by telephone (we will let you know if you also need to put this in writing)
by email using the link below
by writing to us (address provided below under Contact information)

If you are notifying a change of address or income in writing you can download a form to complete; see the links to the right.

Do I need to provide anything about the change?
If you have proof of the change then you need to send this to us. If you don’t have the proof yet, tell us about the change anyway and let us know when you expect to receive it.