Changes you should tell the housing or council tax benefit department about

This content applies to Scotland only.

Housing laws vary between Scotland and England. This page applies to Scotland only. Get advice relating to England

If you are getting housing or council tax benefit and you have had a change in your circumstances, it may affect the amount of benefit that you are entitled to. Find out which changes you have to tell the housing or council tax benefit department about. If you are going back to work or working more hours, you may be able to get extended housing benefit to help you pay your rent when other benefits stop.

What happens if my circumstances change?

If you have any change in your circumstances that may affect the amount of benefit you receive, you should notify the housing or council tax benefit department immediately. It is best to tell them if you are not sure. If you don't, you could end up being paid too much benefit and having to pay it back at a later date. You never know - you might be entitled to more benefit.

If your change of circumstances does affect the amount of benefit you receive, this may be effective either immediately or on the Monday after the change took place.

What is a change of circumstances?

Here is a list of things that you must tell the housing or council tax benefit department about.

If:

• you move house
• someone else moves into your house
• someone moves out of your house.

If you or someone living with you:

• have your benefit stopped or move from one benefit to another, for example, from income support to incapacity benefit
• have a change to the amount of benefit or tax credit you get
• have to pay back money to working or child tax credit
• get a new benefit
• get a job or change job
• have a job and change hours or get a pay rise.
• are off work and receiving statutory sick pay or reduced pay
• have a change in the amount of savings you have
• have a change to the amount of pension you get.

If:

• you have a baby
• a child in your house turns 16
• a child in your house leaves school.

If you or someone living with you:

• goes into, or comes out of, hospital
• goes to prison
• becomes a student.

If:

• you take in a lodger
• you sublet your house.

If you are going to be away from your home for a period of time, for example working away or going on an extended holiday.

If:

• your rent charge changes (if your rent increases, your claim may be referred to a rent officer for a new decision on the maximum rent that can be paid for your property. For information about the maximum rent see our page on how housing benefit is calculated)
• your landlord receives a rent penalty notice and you don't need to pay any rent for a period of time
• the private rented housing panel (PRHP) sends you a rent relief notice
• you have any other change that may affect your benefit.

You can download a sample letter that you can use to notify the housing/council tax benefit department of your change of circumstances here. If you can, take the letter in personally and ask for a receipt. Keep this in a safe place. If this is not possible, take a copy of the letter and a record of the date that you sent it. This will help avoid problems if the letter gets lost.

What is extended payment of housing benefit?

If other benefits you receive (such as jobseeker's allowance, income support or incapacity benefit) are stopping because you are returning to work, or will be working more hours or earning more money, you may be entitled to extended payment of housing benefit for an extra four weeks, to help you pay your rent. You can find out more at the Direct.gov website.

What if I get a letter saying I've been overpaid benefit?

If you receive a letter telling you that you have been paid too much benefit, you should contact an adviser at Shelter, a Citizens Advice Bureau or another advice agency. You will find contact details in the Advice Services Directory.

An adviser will be able to check if housing/council tax benefit department have made a mistake or help you challenge the decision if the reason you were paid too much benefit was not your fault.

If the council has not made a mistake and you have to pay the money back, the council can either send you a bill or deduct the money from future housing benefit payments, and also from payments of other benefits you receive.