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Guide to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support

Find detailed information about Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support including who is eligible to apply for it.

Changes to your circumstances

The law says you must tell us if there is any change to the information we have used to calculate your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support.

You should tell us immediately of any changes in your circumstances.

You need to tell us about any change that could affect your benefit, for example, if there is any change to your or your partner's:

  • benefits
  • income
  • capital or savings
  • rent or accommodation (if you are a council tenant you don't need to tell us about any rent changes)
  • tax credits
  • if anyone comes to live with you or moves out
  • someone who lives with you starts or stops work or there is any change in the income of someone who lives with you
  • a child leaves school

We cannot list all of the changes in circumstance that you should tell us about, but if you are not sure whether we need to know please contact us.

You must inform the Benefits Service immediately if any of the details you have reported in your claim change.

Delays in reporting changes in circumstance can result in benefit being overpaid or being awarded a discount you are not entitled to.

Published: 8 December 2020

Last updated: 4 February 2021