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  5. What changes you must tell us about
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What changes you must tell us about

Examples of changes you need to tell us about.

You can only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if you meet one of the following criteria: 

  • You are single and of state pension credit qualifying age, or
  • Part of a couple and are both of state pension credit qualifying age, or
  • Part of a couple and been continuously receiving Pension Credit since at least 14/05/19
  • You can find your Pension Credit qualifying age using Check your state pension age
  • Live in supported accommodation
  • Have been placed in temporary accommodation by the Local Authority

If not you need to claim Universal Credit  Opens in a new window  for help with paying your rent.

Changes you need to tell us about affecting earnings

  • If you or your partner have a pay rise
  • If you or your partner have a permanent contractual change in your working hours
  • If you or your partner start working regular overtime each month
  • If you or your partner cease employment
  • If you or your partner change jobs
  • If there is a significant change to the terms and conditions of you or your partners employment that might affect your benefit entitlement
  • If you or your partner start receiving Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Paternity Pay
  • If you or your partner start receiving Company Sick Pay or Maternity Pay
  • If you or your partner receive a bonus or commission payment from your employer

Income and savings

  • If entitlement to any other benefit begins or ends for anyone in your home
  • Any changes to income for anyone in your home
  • Increase or decrease in the amount of you or your partner's savings, capital and investments if you are 
    • Working age and you and your partner hold capital over £5500
    • Pension age and you and your partner hold capital over £9500
  • Sale of any residential property you own or part own

Changes in your household 

  • Somebody moves in or out of your home
  • You start or stop letting part of your home to someone who pays rent
  • You start paying, stop paying or there are changes to the amount of child care you pay
  • You, your partner or your child starts or finishes full-time education, including university courses
  • You or somebody in your household goes to prison or is on remand
  • You or your partner are away from home and don't plan to return within four weeks

Changes to your tenancy

  • You move home
  • Your rent goes up or down
  • Your landlord changes
  • You receive a new tenancy agreement
  • The conditions of your tenancy change e.g. if you start or stop paying for services as part of your tenancy (gas, electricity, water rates etc).
This page was last updated over three months ago

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