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Housing benefit changes in circumstances

If you get housing benefit you are responsible for informing us of any changes in your personal and financial circumstances which may affect your benefit.

The amount of Housing Benefit you receive is based on the information you gave us in your application form. If your circumstances change, your Housing Benefit may change too.

The changes you must tell us about

If your circumstances change, you must tell us because it may affect your benefit. You should let us know, in writing, within one month of the change. If you do not and the change means you would get more benefit, we may not be able to pay you the extra benefit.

Working Age claimants (under 60) and Pension Age claimants (age 60 or over) who do not received Pension Credit

Household details

You must tell us if:

  • any of your children leave school, start work or start to get Jobseeker's Allowance;
  • anyone comes to live with you or anyone leaves (including lodgers or tenants);
  • you have a student child who normally studies away from home and they return home during the holiday period;
  • you or your partner go into hospital, (tell us the date you go in and when you go home);
  • someone living with you stops or starts to get Jobseeker's Allowance or starts work; or
  • you stop or start caring for a disabled person.

Going abroad

  • You must tell us if you or your partner, or both of you, leave the country. Tell us before you go and as soon as you get back.

Income details

You must tell us if:

  • You start or stop getting Child Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance or any other state benefit; or
  • there is any change in your income or savings.

Accommodation details

You must tell us if:

  • your rent goes up or down; or
  • you change your accommodation, even if this is to another room in the same house.

Other changes which may affect your benefit

  • If Disability Living Allowance mobility or care stops, starts or changes.
  • If you have received benefit as a student and your course finishes.

Pension Age claimants who receive Pension Credit

If you receive the guaranteed part of Pension Credit, you must tell us if:
  • a partner moves in or out;
  • you or your partner go into hospital or residential care;
  • anyone else comes to live with you; or
  • your rent or tenancy details change.

If you receive the savings part of Pension Credit, you must also tell us if:

  • your savings go over £16,000; or
  • you are away for more than 13 weeks.

If you do not tell us about a change in your circumstances, we may:

  • reduce your benefit entitlement;
  • stop your benefit;
  • recover an overpayment which you may be liable to repay;
  • or prosecute you.

You can tell us about any changes on line or you can tell us about any changes using this form (Word, 48Kb).

What will I receive if I qualify for an extended payment on my council tax or housing benefit?
If you qualify for an extended payment, it means an extra 4 weeks of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit payable at the same rate whilst in receipt of Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (income based), Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance. It does not matter how much you earn. If your extended payment period covers any 'rent free' weeks you will not be paid for these weeks. If you move home during the extended payment period you may be paid at a different rate.

What is an extended council tax or housing benefit payment?
When you get a job, or increase the amount of money you earn at your current job, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit extended payments help you to meet your housing and Council Tax costs for up to four weeks during the period between the last payment of Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (income based) and receipt of your first wage.

What is a 'change in circumstances'?
There are different rules depending on whether you are a working age customer or a pension age customer.

Working Age

You must tell us if your circumstances change because it may affect your benefit. You should let us know, in writing, within one month of the change. If you do not and the change means you could get more benefit, we may not be able to pay you the extra benefit.
Tell us at once if the following happens:
  • - you change your address;
  • - you start or stop getting Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance or Income related Employment and Support Allowance;
  • - your income and/or capital changes;
  • - the income and/or capital of your children or other people in your household changes;
  • - anyone joins or leaves your household;
  • - you or your partner go into hospital for more than four weeks or long term care in a nursing home.
If you are not sure if a change will affect your Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit please contact the Benefits Service for advice.


Pension Age

If you do not get Pension Credit you must tell us if your circumstances change because it may affect your benefit. You should let us know, in writing, within one month of the change. If you do not and the change means you would get more benefit, we may not be able to pay you the extra benefit.

If you received Pension Credit, you must tell us if:

Guarantee Pension Credit
  • - a partner moves in or out;
  • - you or your partner go into hospital or residential care;
  • - anyone else comes to live with you; or
  • - your rent or tenancy details change.
If you receive the savings part of Pension Credit, you must also tell us if:
  • - your savings go over £16,000; or
  • - you are away for more than 13 weeks.

I have recently started work in a fairly low paid job. Can I still apply for Council Tax and Housing Benefits even though I don't have the amount of payslips needed to process my claim?
You should apply as soon as possible as any delay may mean a loss of benefit. You should include a note stating that you have only recently started work and will provide payslips as soon as they become available.

How does being away from home affect my housing benefit?
If you are away from home and intend to return home then you should tell us, as you may be able to claim. Normally Housing Benefit can only be paid for absences up to 13 weeks and you must contact us before you go away. If you or your partner are in hospital for more than six weeks, your Housing Benefit will be reduced. If you stay in hospital for more than a year and are a single person, your Housing Benefit will usually stop.

How do I ensure that my housing benefit claim is correct?
When you apply for Housing Benefit, you will sign a declaration which confirms that you will tell us of any change in your personal circumstances which may affect the payment of your claim. It is important that you tell us of any changes immediately to make sure that the correct amount of Housing Benefit is awarded to you. It is your responsibility to tell us of any change in your personal circumstances.

Can I claim housing benefit for more than one home?
Usually you can only receive Housing Benefit for your main home. You may be able to claim for two homes if you have had to leave home because of actual or threatened violence, if you have moved but have to pay rent on your old home at the same time (for up to four weeks only), or if you are a qualifying student or trainee who lives away from home.

Am I eligible to claim an extended payment for council tax or housing benefit?
If you have been in receipt of Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance, you may be eligible for an extended payment when you start your new job.