Changes in Circumstances and Your Benefits

If you know your circumstances are going to change you can put it in writing to us up to 13 weeks before the change is due to happen or request the appropriate form to be sent to you.

You must tell us if:

1. Any of your children leave school, home or stop getting child benefit
2. Anyone moves into or out of your home (including lodgers and subtenants)
3. Your income or the income of anyone living with you, including benefit, changes
4. You, or anyone living with you, become a student, go on a youth training scheme, go into hospital or a nursing home, go into prison or get, change or leave a job
5. Your rent changes
6. You move home
7. You or your partner are going to be away from your home for more than a month
8. You receive any decision from the Home Office
9. Anything you have told us about changes
10. Any change in circumstances must be reported to the Benefits Service immediately in order to amend your claim and avoid any unnecessary overpayment or loss of benefit entitlement.

Any delay in informing the Benefits Team could result in an overpayment of benefit, which you may have to pay back.

If you have a claim running already you may not need to complete a full new form, however, you do need to advise of a change in circumstances. Please note all changes must be notified in writing and the relevant proofs confirming this will need to be provided.

If in doubt, let the Council know anyway.

For further information please contact the Revenues Division on 01789 260990 or by email at revenues@stratford-dc.gov.uk or by fax on 01789 260444.