Liverpool City Council - change of circumstances

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Monday 13 October 2008

Changes in circumstances

What changes should I tell you about?
If you have applied for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit or have been told that you are getting Housing Benefit and or Council Tax Benefit, you must tell us about changes that might affect your benefit straight
away.  

If you are in receipt of Pension Credit the reporting of changes in circumstances are different, see the pensioners and benefits page for more information.

If you do not tell us about a 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.

Examples of the changes you must tell us about include:

• If you move home or move rooms within the house where you live;
• If any state benefits you or your partner are getting either change or stop;
• If you or your partner start to get a new state benefit;
• If the income received by you or your partner changes;
• If your savings go up or down;
• If you or your partner start work or change jobs;
• If you or your partner go into hospital;
• If anyone joins or leaves the household;
• If anyone in your household has a change in their income;
• If your rent changes; or
• If you have any other change which may affect your benefit          

You must send us proof of your new circumstances.  Please note that we can only accept original documents, not photocopies. 

Please contact us if any of these changes apply to you. You can also download the Change in Circumstances form by clicking below.  You can print it out, fill it in and return it to the address on the form.

Download the Change in Circumstances form 

This form is available in PDF format and you will need Adobe Reader to view it.

What happens to my benefit if I move?
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit will be stopped at your old address when we find out that you have moved.  If the only change is your address you need to fill in our Change of Address form.  If you have moved address and there have been other changes i.e change in income you must fill in a new Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit application form. 

You can get copies of our application forms from your nearest One Stop Shop or by calling 0151 233 3009.  You can also download the application forms by clicking below. You can print them out, complete and return to the address on the form.

Download Housing Benefit form notes

Download Housing Benefit form

Download Change of Address form notes

Download Change of Address form

The application forms are available in PDF format and you will need Adobe Reader to view them.

If you have to move quickly from one rented home to another you may be able to claim Housing Benefit on two homes.  For more information download our leaflet:

'On a low income?  Need help paying your rent?' 

Anyone claiming Housing Benefit must tell us that they have moved and provide a forwarding address!

Remember!
If you do not tell us about a change in your circumstances, you may loose out on benefit or you might be overpaid benefit and be asked to pay it back.

Information

If you need more information you can download the following leaflets:

'How to make a claim for Housing/Council Tax Benefit and Second Adult Rebate. (Including Students, Self-employed and persons from abroad)

'Don't miss out on your Right to Benefit'

See the full range of our leaflets.

Contact us
You can contact us in several ways:

Post
Liverpool City Council
Benefits Service
PO Box 13
Liverpool
L69 2JG

Telephone
0151 233 3009 (24hours)

Fax
0151 225 2145

Email
benefits.service@liverpooldirectlimited.co.uk

In person
You can visit us at any of our one stop shops