Southampton City Council fact sheet
Why should I tell you about changes of circumstances?
If you are receiving housing benefit, council tax benefit or second adult rebate and there has been a change in the circumstances for you or anyone in your household you are legally required to tell us.
If you fail to report any change in your circumstances within one month of it happening, you may lose out on benefit or we may pay you too much benefit and you will have to pay it back to us.
How do I tell you about a change of circumstance?
You can report a change in your circumstances by letter or by using the council’s change of circumstances form. You can get a copy of the form from Gateway at the Civic Centre or by telephoning Benefit services. The letter or form must be signed by you and your partner (if you have one).
You must provide proof of your change of circumstances; we will only accept original documents, not photocopies. For more information on original proofs see our factsheet ‘original proofs speed up claims’, which is available on request, can be downloaded from this website or collected from Gateway at the Civic Centre.
What do we class as a change of circumstance?
We have listed some of the main changes of circumstance you need to tell us about, however the list does not cover every change in circumstance, so if you are unsure please contact Benefit service on 023 8083 2031.
Change to the amount of rent you pay – you must tell us about any change to the amount of rent your landlord charges you. The letter from your landlord telling you about the change should be sent to the council.
Council tenants do not have to give us details of rent changes, as we will already have this information.
Change of address - if you are moving to a new address with a private landlord then you will need to complete a new application form.
If you are moving into a new council property or a new owner occupied property you will need to complete a change of circumstance form, confirming the date of the move.
If you are changing a room within a hostel or moving to a new housing association property you will need to complete a change of circumstance form confirming the date of the move as well as providing proof of the new rent from your landlord.
Changes to the people living in your household – if someone comes to live with you or if someone leaves your household, you will have to complete a change of circumstance form, confirming the change and provide relevant proofs (for example, wage slips).
Changes to your marital status – you must tell us if a partner comes to live with you or leaves your household. A partner means someone of the opposite sex you are married to or live with as if you were married.
Changes to your income or your partner’s income – you must tell us if your income changes. For example, if you start work or change jobs or if you are no longer entitled to Income support or Job seeker’s allowance, or if your pensions or benefits change.
If you are informing us of your or your partner’s wage increase you will need to provide wage slips showing the date of the increase and the new wage amount.
Changes to your employment – if you or your partner has started work but don’t qualify for an Extended payment (a leaflet explaining the Extended payment scheme is available on request) you only have to provide income details and proof of savings.
If you, or your partner, start work and do qualify for Extended payment you will have to complete a new claim form and provide all necessary proofs.
Changes concerning your children – you must tell us if you have a child, if child benefit ends or if your child leaves school or starts work.
Changes to your savings or capital – you must tell us if your savings or capital changes.
Change for anyone living with you – you must tell us if the circumstances change for anyone living with you, for example if their income changes.
What type of form and proofs are required?
Below is a table detailing the main types of change of circumstance and the appropriate form you must complete and the necessary original proofs id any are required. If you are unsure please ask by call us or visiting Gateway at the Civic Centre.
| Type of change | Type of form required | Proof required |
| Change to your rent (does not apply to council tenants) | Change of circumstance form | Letter from landlord informing you of the change of rent |
| Change of address – private landlord | Claim form – housing and council tax benefit | All necessary proofs |
| Change of address – council property or owner occupier | Change of circumstance form | - |
| Change of address – hostel or housing association | Change of circumstance form | Proof of new rent from landlord |
| Change in household composition | Change of circumstance form | Any relevant proof of income – payslips, state benefit award letter, payment book, interest from savings |
| Change of marital status or if a partner comes to live with you | Change of circumstance form
| Proof of partner’s identification, National Insurance number and any income or capital |
| Changes to your income or your partner’s income | Change of circumstance form | Proof of new income
|
| If you start work and are not entitled to an extended payment | Back to work form (Endo if IS/JSA (IB) form) | Proof of all income and capital
|
| If you start work and are entitled to an extended payment | Claim form – housing and council tax benefit | All necessary proofs
|
| Any other change
| Change of circumstance form | Proof of relevant change |
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Last updated: 17 December 2007