What you need to know while on benefits
On this page you can find out about
- what to do while on benefits
- what to do if you do not qualify
- what to do if you disagree with a decision
- if you need additional help
What to do while on benefits
You will receive a notification letter about your housing benefit or Council Tax Support from us, which will include a breakdown of the income used to assess your entitlement.
Please check this carefully to make sure the details used to calculate your benefit are correct. If any of the details are wrong or something has not been included, you must contact the benefit office immediately.
Failure to do so may result in you being paid too much money which you may have to pay back.
Please tell us immediately about any changes in your circumstances or those of your family who are included in your claim. These include:
- Changes in income, including benefits
- Any changes in your Universal Credit award
- Any increases or decreases in your earnings or self-employed earnings
- If you or anyone living with you changes jobs or the number of hours worked
- If the amount of child care you pay or the person providing the care changes
- Any changes in your or your partners capital, savings or investments or that of anyone living with you
- If any of your children leave school or leave home
- If anyone moves into or out of your home including sub-tenants and boarders
- If you or anyone living with you becomes a student, starts a Training Scheme, goes into hospital, a nursing home or prison
- If your rent changes
- If you move
- If you or your partner are going to be away from the property for more than 4 weeks
Report a change in circumstances
Please tell us about these changes yourself within a month from the date of the change. If you don’t, you may lose any additional benefit or you may be asked to repay any benefit you are not entitled to.
It is an offence not to tell us about a change in your circumstances that affects benefit. We may take further action against you if the Council considers that you have committed an offence.
What to do if you do not qualify
If your circumstances change and you wish to make a new claim for help with your housing costs you may need to claim Universal Credit.
Read more about Universal Credit on the GOV.UK Universal Credit page
If you need help with your Council Tax you can still apply for Council Tax Support with the Council.
Apply for housing benefit and council tax support
What to do if you disagree with the decision
You have the right to request a full explanation if:
- You do not understand the way your benefit has been calculated
- You do not agree with a decision
- You have been overpaid and do not understand why you have been overpaid.
If you require an explanation or reconsideration this must be done within a month of the date of the original decision. If you do not agree with our decision you have the right to appeal.
Your appeal must be made in writing to the Council within a month of the original decision. If you have asked for an explanation or reconsideration this period will be extended by the time we take to provide this to you in writing.
For Housing Benefit, if we do not change the decision, your appeal will be referred to the Tribunal Service, this is an independent organisation. The Tribunal Service apply the same rules as the Council, and they can only decide if the law has been applied correctly.
An appeal must be submitted in writing to the Council within 2 months of the original decision. If the Council do not reply within 2 months you can appeal direct to the Valuation Tribunal for more information visit, on the Valuation Tribunal website.
If your appeal is made outside of this time the Tribunal Service or Valuation Tribunal will decide whether they accept the appeal.
Additional help with your rent
If your rent is not being met in full through Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit Housing Costs, we may be able to provide further financial assistance.
Read more information about help with paying your rent