Generic change of circumstances form
The information below tells you what you need to do if there
is a change in your circumstances which may affect your entitlement
to Housing/Council Tax Benefit and what might happen if you don't
inform us at the relevant time.
Types of changes you need to tell us
about
It is important to tell us about any change in your
circumstances which may affect your entitlement to Housing/Council
Tax Benefit. This will enable Benefit Services to re-assess your
claim accordingly and make sure you receive your correct
entitlement to benefit. In some cases, it may be necessary to stop
your claim for benefit and ask you to complete a new application
form. There are many different types of changes that we need to
know about and some examples are given below.
- When there is a change in any type of income of any member of
the household, either an increase or a decrease.
- When there is a significant change in the amount of
savings/capital held by any member of the household, either an
increase or a decrease.
- When a member of the household moves to another address, either
temporarily or permanently.
- When someone else moves into the household.
- When the whole household moves to another address.
- When a member of the household dies.
- When a new child is born.
- When there is a change in the amount of your rent, either an
increase or decrease.
- When there is a change in the number of hours worked by any
member of the household, either an increase or a decrease.
If you move house and wish to inform the Council at a single
point, either e-mail
newaddress@ryedale.gov.uk or
telephone (01653) 600666 at any time, where it is possible to leave
a message which will be used to update all the District Council's
systems. Please provide in the format: name; old address; name of
incoming occupier - if known; new address, date of move: Under the
Data Protection Act this information will be distributed to all the
relevant sections of the District Council.
When you need to tell us?
You must tell us as soon as the change in your circumstances
occurs, or within one calendar month of the change occurring,
otherwise you may lose benefit entitlement or there may be an
overpayment of benefit which will need to be repaid to the Council.
Even if you are waiting for documentary evidence to provide in
support of the change which has occurred, you should tell us about
the change straight away and provide any further information when
it becomes available.
What you need to tell us and how?
You should confirm details of any changes of circumstances in
writing within one calendar month of the change occurring. We need
to know details of what change has occurred and the exact date on
which it occurred. If, for some reason, you are unable to put the
details in writing straight away, you should inform us first by
telephone and confirm the details in writing as soon as possible.
Wherever possible, you should supply evidence of the details that
have changed.
What happens when we receive details of
the change?
Your claim will be reassessed to take into account the details
that have changed and you will be notified in writing of how your
benefit entitlement has been affected. Where the change means that
more benefit is payable, the claim will only be reassessed from the
Monday following the date of the change if Benefit Services has
received details of the change within one calendar month. Where the
change means that less benefit is payable, the claim will be
reassessed from the Monday following the date of the change,
regardless of when Benefit Services has received details of the
change.
What will happen if you don't tell us at
the relevant time?
If Benefit Services does not receive details of a change in
circumstances within one calendar month of the date on which the
change occurred and the change means that more benefit is payable,
the claim will only be reassessed from the Monday following the
date on which the details are received. This means a loss of
benefit entitlement. However, if Benefit Services does not receive
details of a change in circumstances until some time after the date
on which the change occurred and the change means that less benefit
is payable, the claim will be reassessed from the Monday following
the date of the change. This means that there may be an overpayment
of benefit which will need to be repaid to the Council.
Changes you need to tell us about if you
receive Pension Credit
For people receiving Guarantee Pension Credit or Savings
Credit, any changes relating to income or capital must be reported
to the Pension Service. There are only certain types of changes
that must be reported directly to the benefits department at
Ryedale within one calendar month of the date on which the change
occurred. Details of these changes are given below.
Guarantee Pension Credit
- Changes to your tenancy, for example an increase in the amount
of your rent charge.
- If anyone aged 18 years or over moves into or out of your
household.
- Changes to the income of anyone aged 18 years or over living in
your household.
- If any member of the household is absent from home where the
absence is likely to exceed 13 weeks.
Savings Credit
- Changes to your tenancy, for example an increase in the amount
of your rent charge.
- If anyone aged 18 years or over moves into or out of your
household.
- Changes to the income of anyone aged 18 years or over living in
your household.
- If any member of the household is absent from home where the
absence is likely to exceed 13 weeks.
- Changes relating to dependant children.
- Changes to Child Tax Credit.
- Changes to Child Benefit.