If your circumstances change while you get Housing Benefit
You must let us know of any changes to your circumstances if you get Housing Benefit from us.
Tell us about a change in your circumstances
It is very important you tell us about any changes in your circumstances. Changes that we need to know about include:
- you or anyone you live with has started or stopped working
- you or anyone you live with has had a change in income
- anyone has moved in or out of your household (including the birth of a baby)
- a change to the rent you have to pay
- you or anyone you live with has started or stopped getting Income Support, Employment Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance or Pension Credits
- changes to your savings/capital or if your capital exceeds £16,000
- if you change your address
- if you or your partner go into hospital or are taken into custody
- if you or your partner are temporarily absent from home for more than 13 weeks within Great Britain*
- if you or your partner or anyone else in your household are temporarily absent from home for more than 4 weeks outside Great Britain*
*Great Britain includes England, Scotland and Wales for Housing Benefit purposes. Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are classed as outside Great Britain for Housing Benefit purposes.
If in doubt, please tell us
You must let us know within one month of the change. You can now tell us about a change of circumstances by signing in to MyAccount - the new way to use council services online.
Notify us online of a change in your circumstances
You can also write to us at:
Renfrewshire Council Benefits Service
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1AD
If you don't let us know about changes like these, you may miss out on benefits you are entitled to, or we may end up overpaying you. If we find this has happened, you may have to pay the money back.