Service request

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

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.

Fraud is the deliberate use of deception or dishonesty to disadvantage or cause loss (usually financial). It's a crime in which some kind of deception is used for personal gain (Audit Scotland - Counter Fraud).

Some examples of fraud include people who:

• don't tell us they are working when they make a claim or application for benefits or money from the Council
• claim or apply as a single person, but actually live with someone else
• claim or apply from an address, but do not live there
• don't tell us, or the relevant organisation, when someone moves into the property, including children, family, friends or partners
• don't tell us the full amount of income, savings or capital they have when they make a claim or application or after their circumstances change
• make a claim or application when they know they do not have a right to it
• provide false information for financial or personal gain
• misuse Council materials, such as Blue Badges
• provide false information to access Council Housing
• sub-let Council properties or abandon Council properties.

The impact of fraud

Each pound lost to fraud represents a loss to the public purse and reduces the ability of local government bodies to provide services to people who need them. 

Across the UK the cost of fraud is estimated at:

• £6.4 billion of benefit fraud during the financial year 2022 to 2023
• £10 billion a year of lost tax revenue from evasion and criminal attacks
• £2.5 billion to £28.5 billion to fraud and error.

These estimates are from the UK Parliament's report on tackling fraud and corruption against government (September 2023).

You can also see an interactive dashboard of fraud and cyber crimes reported to Action Fraud over the last 13 months.

Some tips for protecting yourself against fraud:

• Stop: if you receive a request to make an urgent payment, change bank details or provide financial information, take a moment to stop and think.
• Challenge: Does something look wrong? Could it be a fraudster? Only criminals will try to rush and panic you.
• Protect: If you're concerned about something or think you've been scammed, report it. Do not feel ashamed or embarrassed. You are not alone.

You can find more advice about protecting yourself against fraud and cybercrime on the ActionFraud website.

Report suspected fraud

You can also contact us by:

• email counterfraudinvestigations@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone 0300 300 1314
• in writing:

Corporate Counter Fraud Team
Finance and Resources
Renfrewshire Council
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1UJ

If you suspect someone is committing fraud, let us know. 

Give us as much information as possible so we can investigate your claim. 

Information could include:

• name and address
• age
• description of persons
• description or registration number of any vehicles
• employers name and address or start and finish times of employment
• the type of fraud you suspect is taking place
• how long you think the fraud has been going on.

Don't worry if you do not know the answers to some of the questions. All the information you provide is strictly in confidence. You do not have to give us your name and address if you do not want to.

If you want to report Housing Benefit fraud, you'll need to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

You'll need to report Social Security Scotland benefit fraud through the Scottish Government website.

You can also report fraud or financial crime to Police Scotland or call them on 101.

If you work for or with the Council, you can report certain types of wrongdoing (whistleblowing) if it is in the public interest.

We have a legal duty to protect the public funds we manage.

We are committed to dealing equally with fraud and corruption from within and outside the Council.

Our counter fraud and corruption policy details our approach to the prevention, detection and prosecution of fraud and corruption, across all of the Council's services.

We also share information provided to us with other bodies responsible for auditing and managing public funds. 

This is outlined in our privacy policy, which sets out how we protect personal data and who we share it with and why.

This includes sharing data with Audit Scotland as part of the National Fraud Initiative. This compares electronic data about individuals held by different public bodies to prevent and detect fraud.

Find more information about counter fraud and the National Fraud Initiative on the Audit Scotland website.

We may ask you for more evidence to support your benefits claim.

If we ask for copies of documents or proof of your identity, you can upload evidence to support your benefits claim.

Only use this form if you have already applied for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction or Second Adult Rebate.

You will need to apply separately for a new claim for:

• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Reduction
• Second Adult Rebate

We may ask for:

• bank statements
• payslips
• a tenancy agreement
• utility bills
• confirmation of student status
• proof of child care costs.

Evidence of your identity (ID) can be a:

• driving licence
• birth certificate
• marriage certificate
• passport
• National Insurance (NI) number card
• medical card
• UK residence permit
• EEC identity card.

Upload evidence online

You can scan or take a photo of the document or your ID on a camera enabled device, such as a smartphone or tablet.

If you are photographing a document, make sure that the whole page shows in your image.

If you're a letting agent representing a landlord, you need to let us know if:

• new tenants have moved in or out of your client's property
• your client has purchased a new buy-to-let property.

This will help us charge the right people the right amount of council tax.

You'll need details for the tenants, including a forwarding address if they've moved out.

Tell us about a tenancy change (for letting agents)

If you have any questions, phone us on 0300 300 0300.

There is a different process for private landlords to tell us about tenancy changes.

A private landlord is someone who manages their property themselves.

If you're a private landlord, you need to let us know if:

• new tenants move in or out of your property
• you've purchased a new buy-to-let property (you need to register as a landlord if you're becoming a landlord for the first time).

This will help us charge the right people the right amount of council tax.

You'll need your landlord registration number.

You'll also need details for the tenants, including a forwarding address if they've moved out.

Tell us about a tenancy change (for private landlords)

If you have any questions, phone us on 0300 300 0300.

There is a different process for letting agents to tell us about tenancy changes.

You need to let us know if:

• you've legally changed your name
• the number of people living in your home aged 18 or older has changed.

This will help us keep accurate records and ensure that we charge you the correct amount of council tax.

To tell us about a name change, you'll need proof of the name change, such as a marriage certificate.

To tell us about a change to your household size, you'll need the details of the person moving in or out, including their new or previous address.

Ideally, tell us about these changes as soon as you can provide us with your proof.

Tell us about a change to your name or household size

If you have any questions, phone us on 0300 300 0300.

You need to let us know if:

• you're moving home within Renfrewshire
• you're moving to Renfrewshire
• you're moving away from Renfrewshire.

This will help us charge you the right amount of council tax, if you need to pay any.

Ideally, tell us about a change of address two weeks before you move house, if you can.

If you're already a Renfrewshire resident, have your council tax reference number ready.

You can check if your property is within Renfrewshire (GOV.UK).

Tell us about a change of address

If you have any questions, phone us on 0300 300 0300.

If your business is in Renfrewshire and you have items that are too big to fit in your bins, you can arrange for us to collect them from your business premises.

You must keep any upholstered furniture items separate from any other items you've also asked us to collect. We will not collect items if they are not separated.

Many upholstered seating items are coated with chemicals called 'persistent organic pollutants' (or POPs) to slow down the spread of fire. By keeping upholstered seating separate from other waste items, we can avoid contamination during the recycling process.

To ask us for a quote to collect your bulky waste items, email us at bs.tradewaste@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

The starting price for a bulky waste collection from a business is £101.95. This does not include white goods (such as refrigerators or washing machines) or upholstered furniture (such as sofas, sofa cushions, armchairs or kitchen and dining room chairs), which cost £49.65 per item.

There may be additional costs depending on the specific items.

Before we can collect your recycling from your business, charity, or public sector body, you'll need to:

• buy bins for your premises
• arrange for us to collect your recycling.

All businesses are legally required to take reasonable measures to recycle as much of their commercial waste as possible.

You must present paper and card (blue bin) and metal, plastic, and glass (green bin) in the correct bins for collection. You cannot mix all your recyclable items together in a single bin.

If you run a business that produces over 5kg of food waste a week, you must also present your food waste in a separate bin for collection. Businesses that produce fewer than 5kg of food waste a week do not have to recycle their food waste.

To arrange for us to collect your recycling, email us at bs.tradewaste@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

You'll need to tell us your name, organisation, and that you'd like us to start collecting your recycling.

Once you receive your bins, we'll collect your waste and recycling on a regular schedule. You'll need to present your bins before 7am, and we'll collect them between 7am and 6pm.

Once you've bought your bins, you'll can request that we collect your recycling. The price for recycling collection depends on the type and quantity of bin (or sack, if this applies to you):