Changes that affect your benefit
If you get benefits and your circumstances change, tell your local benefits office as soon as possible. Reporting changes quickly, means you'll get any increase or new benefit faster. For some changes your payments may be reduced. Find out how a change in your circumstances can affect your benefit claim.
Changes you need to report
You must report any change in your circumstances to your local benefit office as soon as it happens, whether or not you think the change is directly related to your benefits.
Some examples of the changes you need to report include:
- getting married, entering into a civil partnership or moving in with a partner
- moving house
- getting a new job
- getting a pay rise
- inheriting or unexpectedly coming into money
- taking in a lodger
- no longer being sick or ill
- travelling or moving abroad
How changes may affect your benefits
Sometimes a change in your circumstances may mean that your benefit rate will change, or that you become entitled to an additional or a different benefit. For example, if you're a lone parent getting Housing Benefit and you decide to look for work, you may be entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance as well.
Other changes in your circumstances, for example getting a pay rise, may mean you no longer qualify for a benefit or will get a reduced amount.
Benefit fraud
If you deliberately fail to report a change in your personal circumstances you are treated as having committed benefit fraud. If you're prosecuted for benefit fraud you could be fined or get a prison sentence.
- What happens if you're suspected of benefit fraud
Other times your benefits may change
Sometimes your benefits may change even when your circumstances remain the same. For example, the government increases most benefit payments to make sure they keep in line with inflation each year.You'll be told of any changes that affect the amount of money you get.
Reporting changes
You can report a change in your circumstances or find out how your benefits might change, by contacting your local benefit office.
More useful links
- Understanding the benefits system
- How to appeal against a benefits decision
This content is subject to Crown Copyright
- Source:
- DirectGov
Let the advisors at Contact Law, a service of FindLaw, guide you through the process of hiring a qualified solicitor to meet your specific needs:
- 5,000 solicitors objectively screened
- Secure and private service
- Expertise for your needs
- Contact Law is a service of FindLaw UK
Call 0800 1777 167
Articles
Community
Blog