Change of Circumstances
If you currently receive Housing Benefit and/or Council
Tax Support and you, or any member of your household has a relevant
change in circumstances, you must let the Benefit Section
know as soon as possible as it may affect your benefit
entitlement.
If the change is likely to result in increased benefit, you must
tell us within one month of the change, or the change will only
take effect from the Monday following the day you tell us and
you may lose out on benefit.
If the change results in the overpayment of benefit to you, we
have the power to recover the overpayment from you.
Please download a
change of circumtances form, complete and either post or
fax the completed form to the address below.
Below are some examples of changes that you must tell us about
straightaway
Changes to the money you get
- you start or stop getting Income Support, Job Seekers
Allowance, Employment Support Allowance
- you start or stop getting Tax Credits
- the money you or your partner gets increases or decreases
- the money non-dependants get increases or decreases
- there are any other changes in the money people in your home
get.
Changes in your home
- you change your address.
If you move address within Northumberland you may download a
change of address form here
- the number of people in your home changes - for example,
someone has a baby
- a partner comes to live with you
- a partner leaves
Other changes
- you, or your partner, go into hospital for more than 6
weeks
- you, or your partner, become a student, or stop being a
student
- the amount of savings or capital you have changes
- any of your children leave school or leave home.
In all cases it is your duty to notify us of any change in your
circumstances.
How to inform us of your change
You must
notify us of your change in writing. Therefore you may
either;
Benefit Section, Northumberland County Council, Wansbeck Square,
Ashington, Northumberland NE63 9XL
or;
It is important that you provide us with the original proof/evidence that supports your
change in circumstances where appropriate, for example payslips,
bank statements or birth certificate.
If you require further help or information please telephone 0845
600 6400.
Useful links
You may use our benefits calculator to see how your change in
circumstances may affect your benefit. Benefits
Calculator
You may also find the following sites
useful:
Citizens Advice
Gov.uk
Department of Work and Pensions
Money Advice
Service
Contact Details
Benefits Section
Northumberland County Council
Wansbeck Square
Ashington
Northumberland
NE63 9XL
Telephone: 0845 6006400
Fax: 01670 620098
email: benefits@northumberland.gov.uk
