What do I need to do about my benefit if my circumstances change?

You must tell us straightaway about any change in your circumstances.  Below are some examples of changes affecting you or your partner that you need to tell us about:-

• Starting to get Income Support or any other type of State Benefit
• No longer getting Income Support or any other type of State Benefit
• Wages going up or down
• Capital, savings and or investments going up or down
• How many people live with you
• Any of your children leaving school
• Moving home (this includes if you move to another flat or room at the same address)
• Birth of a child
• Going into hospital
• Going into a rest home

You must give us full details about the change in your circumstances including the date the change occurred and provide proof of the change.

It is important that you tell us about any changes as soon as possible so that we do not pay you too much benefit. If you do get too much benefit (an overpayment) we will ask you to pay the money back. If you want more information about overpayments please see question ‘Housing and Council Tax Overpayments’.

If you get any other state benefit, you also need to tell the Job Centre Plus about any changes in your circumstances.

If you or your partner are over 60 and are in receipt of Pension Credit

You must tell the Pension Service of any changes and they well tell you how the change will affect you. If the change is something which was not included in your Pension Credit calculation, you must tell us not the Pension Service.

Some examples of changes that you need to notify us of are:

• Changes in your tenancy
• Moving home
• Non-dependants and who is living with you
• Dependant children
• Working Tax Credit
• Capital, savings and or investments of more than £16,000 if you are getting Savings Credit only
• Income and capital of partner which has not been included in the Pension Credit claim
• Going into hospital
• Going into a rest home
• Absence from home of more than 13 weeks

You must give us full details about the change in your circumstances including the date the change occurred and provide proof of the change.

It is important that you tell us about any changes as soon as possible so that we do not pay you too much benefit.  If you do get too much benefit (an overpayment) we will ask you to pay the money back.  If you want more information about overpayments please see question ‘Housing and Council Tax Overpayments’