Council Tax Benefit - Change of Circumstances

 

Everyone who has been awarded council tax benefit has a duty to tell West Lothian Council's benefit team about any changes to their circumstances, or changes to the circumstances of anyone else who lives with them if it could affect the amount of benefit awarded.

Examples of  changes that you must tell us about are given on pages 5 and 6 of the booklet (new window) you receive at the beginning of each year with your benefit award letter. Some of the main changes you must tell us about are listed below. If you are not sure whether or not to report a change, tell us anyway and we'll put your mind at rest.

Time limits

Some changes could mean you will get more benefit, for example if your income goes down. It is very important that you tell us right away about these changes. Any delay of longer than a month will mean that you could lose out.

Other changes may mean that you get less benefit. But it is always in your interests to tell us of any changes right away - so we will not have to claim money back from you later.

How to report a change or contacting us

The Benefits Team
Revenues Unit
St David House
South Bridge Street
Bathgate
EH48 1TT

Evidence required

We need to see proof of any changes, especially if it means you are going to get more benefit. We need to see evidence of the changes, such as a change in your income or savings, and all evidence of the change must be the original document.

Our staff in your local office can take photocopies of any of your documents free of charge and give you back the originals right away. If you don?t want to use your local office, you must send the original document to us at the address above.

Here are some of the main changes that you must tell us about

Changes in your household such as

  • Someone leaves your home
  • Someone moves into your home
  • Family members stop living with you
  • Your family increases
  • A child leaves school, or college
  • Someone in the house starts work, or stops work
  • Someone in the house stops or starts to get Jobseekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support
  • You stop, or start, caring for a disabled person
  • You or your partner go into hospital

Changes in income and savings such as

  • The amount you earn goes up or down
  • The amount of overtime changes
  • The amount of Tax Credit you get goes up or down
  • The amount or type of benefit you get changes
  • You start getting a private pension
  • The amount of your savings goes up or down
  • Any other income that you have changes

You also need to tell us about any changes in the income of your partner, and any other who live in your household

Changes in where you live such as

  • Your rent goes up or down - (if you are a tenant of a private landlord)
  • Your tenancy agreement changes
  • You move address

Other Changes:

  • You have a student child who normally studies away from home and they return home during the holiday period
  • You or your partner leave the country
  • You are likely to be away from your house for more than 13 weeks which includes:
  • if you are taken into custody or held on remand
  • if you are away on an extended trip
  • if circumstances mean you had to leave your home for a while

Tell us what the change is and when it happened. We will then make sure you get the right benefit.

This list tells you about some of the main changes that you need to tell us about, but it doesn't include everything.

If you have a change of circumstances and are unsure about whether you need to tell us - Tell us anyway and we will be able to put your mind at rest.

Remember to tell us about any changes, even if you have already told someone else such as the Jobcentre or another Council department.

 

Updated 05/10/2011

Frequently Asked Questions

Click a question to see the answer.

Am I eligible to claim an extended payment for Council Tax or Housing benefit?

If you were receiving Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (income based), or Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance for at least 26 weeks in a row, you may be eligible for an extended payment when you start your new job, provided you claim within four weeks of starting your new job.

How is council tax benefit paid?

We will pay your Council Tax Benefit directly into your Council Tax account.

I get Council Tax benefit, so why did I get a bill that says I owe money?

Council tax benefit does not cover water and sewerage charges; you must pay these yourself.

I have recently started work in a fairly low paid job. Can I still apply for Council Tax and Housing Benefits even though I don't have the amount of payslips needed to process my claim?

Yes, you can still apply for Council Tax and Housing Benefit, but you should apply as soon as possible as any delay may mean a loss of benefit. You should include a note stating that you have only recently started work and will provide payslips as soon as they become available.

I received a 25% Single Person's Discount on my Council Tax until my unemployed daughter returned to live with me. I don't qualify for Benefit because my income is too high. Is there any other help available to me now that I have to pay extra?

You can make a claim for what is known as a second adult rebate. This is done on the normal benefit application form. You can claim this because your daughter is unemployed and therefore has a low income. If you are not sure whether you may be entitled to ordinary Council Tax benefit you can claim both. The Council will work out your entitlement under both schemes and you will be awarded the one most beneficial to you.

What is a 'change in circumstances'?

A 'change in circumstances' is when your situation changes and your benefits are affected. If you are getting benefits or think you may now be entitled to get different benefits, you must write and tell us at once if your circumstances change - a phone call is not enough. Tell us at once in writing if any of the following happens: you change your address, you start or stop getting Income Support or Income Based Jobseekers Allowance, your income and/or capital changes, the income and/or capital of your children or other people in your household changes, anyone joins or leaves your household, you or your partner go into hospital for more than four weeks or long term care in a nursing home.

What is an extended council tax or housing benefit payment?

When you get a job, or increase the amount of hours you work at your current job, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit extended payments can help you to meet your housing and Council Tax costs for up to four weeks during the period between the last payment of Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (income based) and receipt of your first wage. From April 2004 the extended payment scheme has been widened to include some claimants who are in receipt of Incapacity Benefit and/or Severe Disablement Allowance. A qualifying condition is that you have been in receipt of Income Support/Job Seeker's Allowance (income based)/Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance for 26 weeks or more and that you must notify the Local Authority or Department of Work and Pensions of your change of circumstances within 4 weeks of the change.

What will I receive if I qualify for an extended payment on my council tax or housing benefit?

If you qualify for an extended payment, it means an extra 4 weeks of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit payable at the same rate whilst in receipt of Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (income based), Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance. It does not matter how much you earn. If your extended payment period covers any 'rent free' weeks you will not be paid for these weeks. If you move home during the extended payment period you may be paid at a different rate.

Online Tools

Contact details