What if my circumstances change?

Once you have made a claim for Council Tax Reduction we need your help to ensure that we have all your up-to-date information.

If your circumstances change before we process your claim you must tell us immediately so that we have all the correct information before any first benefit payment is made.

When you start receiving Council Tax Reduction you must tell us about any changes in your circumstances that may affect the amount you get. Any changes must be notified to us in writing.

You can telephone us with the information, but you must also then notify us in writing as we need to keep a copy for our records. When you notify us please include your contact details (an email address and any telephone numbers) in case we need to contact you quickly.

You must include your benefit claim reference number on any notification/correspondence sent to us. If you delay telling us about any changes your benefit payments may be incorrect. The longer you delay telling us the more you could be overpaid or underpaid. In some situations you could even face criminal charges for fraud.

There are many types of changes that can affect the amount of benefit you are entitled to receive including:

• A change of address
• A change of landlord (if rent paid)
• A change of rent (including services provided)
• Changes in earnings for you or any other adult in the household
• Changes in the number of people living in your household
• Changes in savings and investments for any adult in the household
• Changes in any other income received by anyone in your household (including benefits, Tax Credits, Pensions, child maintenance payments).

As there are so many types of changes possible the above is not a full list. If in doubt, please tell us about any change that may affect your benefit and we will decide if it makes a difference.

In some circumstances we may need to see further proof/evidence of the change. If this is the case we will contact you with details of what is required (as long as you have provided us with an e-mail address/telephone number).

It is important that you always inform us directly when a change of circumstances occurs. If you only inform other organisations/departments of your change (e.g. the Department for Work and Pensions, a Job Centre, or Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) they may not pass on the information to us.