Change in circumstances
Tell us about your changes
Use our online form to tell us about your changes. If you are changing address please see what we need you to tell us before completing the form.
Complete the Change in Circumstances form
You can attach proof of your changes when completing the online form - but we may still ask you to provide original documents if necessary.
If you are not able to use our online form please download, print and complete a Change of Circumstances Form (PDF, 284KB)
- What changes do we need to know about?
- Changes of address
- Council Tax Support
- People receiving Pension Credit
- Temporary absence from home or Great Britain
- Housing Benefit on two homes
What changes do we need to know about?
The law states that you must immediately tell us if there is a change in circumstances that affects your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction.
Do not wait more than 1 month after the change takes place to tell us.
You must tell us:
- if you or your partner get or apply for Universal Credit
- about changes to your residency, rent and tenancy: for example your address, tenancy, rent or landlord
- about changes to your own and your partner's income and benefits: for example Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseekers Allowance, earnings, self-employed income or any other benefit or income you receive
- about other changes in your own and your partner’s circumstances: for example your name, employment, savings, Home Office immigration status or if you go on holiday or are away from your home
- about changes relating to people who live with you: for example their name, job, benefits, income, savings or if someone moves in or out
- about changes relating to your children: for example moving in or moving out of your home or if you start or stop paying childcare charges or the amount you pay changes
If you are not sure – tell us anyway
Make sure you tell us as soon as possible. If you don’t tell us on time you may not get what you are entitled to, you may get too much and will have to pay it back or your benefit could be stopped. You could even face criminal charges for fraud.
Changes of address
If you are telling us about a change of address we need you to tell us:
- your old address and the date you moved out
- your new address and the date you moved in
- the name of anyone you lived with at your old address who is not moving with you to the new address
- the name of anyone living with you at your new address who did not live with you at the old address
- the date your tenancy begins
- your new rent (you must tell us if service charges or meals are included)
- about any joint tenants
- a description of the property you are moving into
- where in the building you live (if you rent a room, bedsit or studio flat)
If you are not sure what you need to tell us please download, print and complete a Change of Address Form (PDF, 362KB).
Council Tax Support
If you only get Housing Benefit you need tell us that you want to apply for Council Tax support if have a change that means you could qualify for a Council Tax Reduction.
You could qualify for a Council Tax Reduction if:
- you change address and are liable to pay Council Tax
- you become liable for Council Tax at your current address
- you or your partner stop working
- you or your partner are awarded a disability related benefit
There are many other changes which could mean you qualify for Council Tax support. You should tell us you want to apply if you are not sure.
People receiving Pension Credit
If you receive ‘Guarantee Credit’ or ‘Guarantee Credit plus Savings Credit’ you must tell us immediately about changes:
- to your residency, rent and tenancy: for example your address, tenancy, rent or landlord
- relating to the people who live with you: for example if someone moves in, if anyone you live with moves out or if their situation changes (e.g. they stop or start work)
- to your own or your partner's circumstances: for example if you go on holiday or are away from your home
If you receive ‘Savings Credit’ only you must tell us immediately about changes:
- to your residency, rent and tenancy: for example your address, tenancy, rent or landlord
- to your own and your partner's income and savings: for example savings and investments of you and your partner, income of you and your partner (if not included in the Pension Credit assessment) or if you stop or start paying childcare charges or the amount you pay changes
- relating to the people who live with you: for example if someone moves in, if anyone you live with moves out or if their situation changes (e.g. they stop or start work)
- to your own or your partner's circumstances: for example if you go on holiday or are away from your home
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