Reporting Changes: Council Tax Reduction and Housing Benefit

When you are in receipt of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction you must notify the council of any changes in your circumstances that might affect your entitlement.

Who should report a change?

The person claiming
A landlord who receives payments

Examples of change in circumstances

The following are some examples of changes in circumstances that you, your partner or members of your household may experience and should be reported. This is not an exhaustive list.

Income	If a household members earned income increases or decreases If as household members working hours change If a household member begins a new job If tax credits increase or decrease If someone starts to receive / stops receiving Carers Allowance for you or your partner If benefits paid by the Department for Work and Pensions stop or start for any household member Receiving student loans, bursaries or grants.
Capital	If the savings that you or your partner hold in the bank increases or decreases If there is a change in the amount of premium bonds or stocks and shares held If you or your partner sell or become the owner of property If you or your partner inherit capital
Household	If anyone moves in or out of the household If a child turns 18 (and what their income is) If a household member becomes or stops being a student If a new child joins the Household Increases or decreases in childcare costs
Rent	If you change your address If your rent has increased or decreased If your landlord changes
Personal Details	If you become a couple If you go into hospital or prison You or your partner goes into a nursing home. You or your partner leave the country Starting or ceasing to become a student.

Reporting a change

If your circumstances have changed or are about to change, you must tell us immediately in order to avoid having to pay money back to us.

Report change of circumstances online

Alternatively, forms for the following circumstances are available to download below:

Time limits

If you delay in telling us when a change happens we may pay you the wrong amount. We need to know of the change as soon as is reasonably possible.

If the change increases your entitlement we may only be able to apply the change from the date that you let us know.

However if the change reduces your entitlement you may be overpaid from the date of change. You will probably have to pay the overpayment back.

It may be considered fraud if you continue to receive Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax reduction when you are not entitled.

Evidence

In most cases we will need to see evidence of the change before we can reassess the award. This is usually original documentation which we will photo copy and return to you. Delays in providing the supporting evidence may mean that we will take longer to process the change. The evidence may be provided to local offices or Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth, PH1 5GD during the hours of 08.45 and 17.00 Monday to Friday.

If you are worried that it may take longer than expected to get the information we need please contact us.

Contact details

Council Tax Reduction & Housing Benefit

Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth, PH1 5GD

Email hbenquiries@pkc.gov.uk

Tel 01738 476049

Web www.pkc.gov.uk/hb