Change in circumstances

Any benefit you are awarded is calculated using the information provided on your initial application form. If any of this information changes while you are still receiving benefit you must inform us within a month of the change, so we can recalculate your entitlement.

You can report a change to us by;

Completing our online Report a change of circumstances form
Printing a copy of our paper form, completing and returning it to us, or
Contacting us to tell us about your change

Examples of changes you should inform us include:

you receive a change in your earnings
you receive a change in your tax credits
there is a new baby in the family
a new partner moves in
there is an increase in your rent
you move house
your income or the income of someone living with you changes

If you are unsure whether you need to report a change please contact us for advice.

If you don't report a change

If a change isn't reported and it reduces the amount awarded it will create an overpayment on your application which must be paid back. When an overpayment is generated an account is opened by our overpayment officer.

Normally the overpayment will be recovered by making deductions from your entitlement. Where this isn't possible a payment plan may be agreed with the overpayment office. If you default on this arrangement you could be summonsed to appear in court.

For more information about the overpayments process please visit The Frequently Asked Questions.

If the change leads to an increase you will only receive the increased amount from the Monday following the change if you report it to us within one month of the change date.

If you knowingly fail to report a change

When a change is not reported and it is proved that you knowingly didn't report the change, your application could be passed to our Fraud team.

For more information please visit the Fraud section.

How to report a change

All changes must be reported to us for your entitlement to be amended. You can download our change in circumstances form from the downloads section to return to us.