Tell us if your circumstances change

It's very important that you tell us about any changes in your circumstances while you get Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction or Second Adult Rebate.

If you're receiving Universal Credit, you must report all changes directly to the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP). 

DWP will inform of any changes to your income or household.

You still must tell us if you've moved home or if anyone else’s income in your household has changed.

If you're not receiving Universal Credit, changes that we need to know about include:

• change of address
• change to the amount of rent you pay (only if you're receiving Housing Benefit)
• change to your childcare costs
• someone has moved in or out of your home, including the birth of a baby
• you or anyone you live with has started or stopped getting Income Support, Employment Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credits or Universal Credit
• you or anyone you live with has a change in income
• you or anyone you live with has started or stopped working
• you or anyone you live with now has more savings, investments or property
• if any children in your household have left school or started work, training or further education
• if you or your partner are away from your home for more than 13 weeks within England, Scotland or Wales
• if you or your partner or anyone else in your household are away from your home for more than 4 weeks outside England, Scotland or Wales.

If you do not let us know about changes like these, you may miss out on benefits you're entitled to, or we may pay you too much Housing Benefit. If this happens, you may have to pay the money back or it could be considered fraud.

You must let us know within 1 calendar month of the change.

If it's more than 1 calendar month, you'll need to tell us why.

You may need to upload proof of the changes when you fill in the form. 

This may include:

• proof of your identity
• proof of earnings
• your rent.

You can save the form as you go along and complete it at a later stage if you need to.

Tell us about a change of circumstances

Email us at benefits.finit@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Tell us in writing at:

Renfrewshire Council 
Benefits Service 
Renfrewshire House 
Cotton Street 
Paisley 
PA1 1AD

Make sure you include your claim reference number or national insurance number (NI) if you contact us by email or post.

After you've submitted the form, you'll see an individual case reference number on the confirmation screen.  

We will also send you an email with the case reference number and some other important information. Please read this email as soon as you receive it.

If we ask you for more proof, you need to sent it to us within one month of submitting this form.