Council tax benefit/reduction: 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.

Back to the top

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.

Back to the top

How to report a change

  • telephone the benefits service on 020 7364 5001
  • report a change in circumstances online  
  • 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. 

Back to the top

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
  • any changes in income of anyone living in your household.
  • 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 (we will need to know their names, dates of birth, date they joined your Household 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.

Back to the top

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

Tower Hamlets Town Hall
160 Whitechapel Road
London
E1 1BJ

Tel: 020 7364 5000
Fax: 020 7364 7048

Email: benefits@towerhamlets.gov.uk 

Back to the top