Council tax benefit: change of circumstances
Everyone who claims council tax benefit has a duty to tell the
Tower Hamlets benefits service about any changes to their
circumstances, or changes to the circumstances of anyone who lives
with them, if it could affect the amount of benefit
awarded.
Examples of changes in circumstances that
you must tell us about are given on the back of every benefit award
letter. The most common are listed below. If you are unsure whether
or not to report a change always report it anyway.
You must still tell us about any changes even
if you get income support and/or jobseeker's allowance and/or
employment and support allowance. Pensioners getting guarantee
credit should report changes to the pension service.
It is your responsibility to ensure we have
the correct information.
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Time limits
Some changes could mean you will get more
council tax benefit for example if your income decreases.
These are called beneficial changes. You must tell us within
one calendar month of the date of the change. If you delay any
longer any extra benefit due to you will only be awarded from the
Monday after you report the change and will not normally be
backdated.
Other changes will mean you get less council
tax benefit. You must make sure you tell the benefits
service straight away. If you do not you will be paid
too much benefit which you will have to pay back. There are no time
limits on how far back the benefits service can go to reclaim
overpayments.
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How to report a change
- telephone the benefits service on 020 7364 5001
-
report a change in circumstances online
- download a
change in circumstances form (.pdf 53k). When completed
either post it to the benefits service or take it to your nearest
One Stop Shop
- complete a change in circumstances form available from
the council’s One Stop Shops or by telephoning the benefits service
on 020 7364 5001
- pensioners claiming pension guarantee credit should report
changes in income and savings direct to the pension service
Evidence required
We normally need to see evidence of the change and will tell you
what is acceptable. If you are going to one of the council’s
One Stop shops please take original evidence with you.
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Examples of changes that you must report
In all instances you will need to tell us the date of
the change.
If you or your partner:
- start work or start working more hours
- stop working or start working less hours
- have an increase in earnings (including self-employed
earnings). Provide details of the amount
- have a decrease in earnings (including self-employment
earnings). Provide details of the amount
- stop or start getting statutory sick pay. Provide details of
the amount
If you or your partner start/stop
receiving:
- income support
- income-based jobseeker's allowance
- employment and support allowance
- a retirement pension - provide details of the
amount
- a private (works) pension or annuity - provide
details of the amount
- contributions-based jobseeker's allowance, contributory
employment and support allowance, incapacity benefit, maternity
benefit/allowance, paternity benefit/allowances - provide
details of the amount
- child benefit or a guardian's allowance - provide details of
the amount
- child tax credit or working tax credit or the amount changes -
provide details of the amount
Other changes:
- if you go into hospital, the date you went in and again when
you are discharged
- if you are taken into custody or held on remand or are released
and the dates and location
- if while in custody you are sentenced to a period in
prison
- if you go away from home and the dates and address you are
living at while you are away and your income while away
- if someone joins your household / comes to live with you and
the dates and their income
- if someone leaves your household / stops living with you and
the dates
- any births deaths or marriages affecting your household
The above is not a full list. If you are
not sure whether to report a change or not report it anyway.
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How to contact us
Tower Hamlets operates as a centralised
benefit claims processing service and a dedicated benefits call
centre both based at the Town Hall where all postal, email and
telephone enquiries should be directed. Home visits can be arranged
if you are housebound and do not have anyone who can help you.
Benefits Service
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London
E14 2BG
Tel: 020 7364 5001
Fax: 020 7364 7048
Email: benefits@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Personal callers should visit their nearest
One Stop Shop to hand in claim forms,
obtain receipts and have original evidence photocopied.
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