What changes do I have to tell you about?

Your benefit is worked out on your circumstances so it is important that you tell us as soon as there are any changes. This includes:

• Change in address, even if it's just to another room in the same house

• Changes in income - pay rise, change of job, overtime, pension increase, benefit increase, leaving work

• Changes in savings - you do not have to tell us about changes in day-to-day changes in your current account or changes in the value on the stock market for any stocks and shares you have.

• Income support or Job Seekers Allowance stopping or starting.

• Dependent children leaving school

• Rent changes - if your landlord changes your rent or if the services included in your rent change. Council tenants do not need to tell us rent changes.

• Someone moving in or out of your home

• Non dependents change of income

Changes in circumstance that mean you will be entitled to more benefit must be notified to the benefit office in writing within one month of the change happening for your benefit to change from the same date*. If you fail to do this you may lose out on benefit.

Changes in circumstance that may result in you being paid too much benefit must also be notified as soon as possible. However, if you fail to do so there is no time limit on how far back the council can go to correct your claim and recover any overpaid benefit.

* this is normally the Monday following the actual date of the change in circumstance.