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Changes in your circumstances

 
If you do not tell us about changes in your circumstances, you could be paid too much benefit. If this occurs, you can be held responsible for paying back the overpayment.

You must tell us, in writing, about any changes in your circumstance that you think will affect your Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit, such as:

  • changes to your income/wages/savings
  • changes to your Tax Credits
  • changes to your pension
  • changes to other people's income living in your home
  • someone else moves into your property
  • you have a change of address
  • your children leaving school, starting work
  • anyone in your household going into hospital
  • leaving the country
  • birth of a child
  • changes to the amount of rent being charged.
It is your responsibility to tell us if your Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance stops. The Benefits Agency is not responsible for telling us about this type of change.

If you are not sure which changes you should tell us about, contact us and we will clarify the situation with you.

If you no longer wish to claim housing benefit

You should notify us in writing as soon as possible giving us the date from which you no longer wish to claim. If you delay notifying us you may be overpaid Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit which you may have to repay.

Returning cheques

If you no longer wish to claim housing benefit or want to return a cheque which you are not entitled to, you can bring the cheque into our customer service centres at the above address. Alternatively you can post the cheque to us with a letter to say why you are returning it and if appropriate, what day you no longer which to claim from.

If you would like payments to be made directly into your bank account you should return the cheque with a covering letter giving details of the bank and account that you would like your benefit paid into. These details should include the account name and number and the bank sort code.

In some circumstances payments can also be made directly to your landlord. If you are in receipt of Local Housing Allowance these circumstances are very limited. If you wish to discuss this option please telephone 020 8921 4900 or contact either of the customer contact centres:

The Riverside Centre
Riverside House East
Woolwich High Street
London
SE18 6BU 
Open from 9.00am- 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am - 4.30pm Friday.
 
The Eltham Centre
2 Archery Road
Eltham
London
SE9 1HA. 
Open from 8am - 10pm Monday to Friday and 9 -5pm Saturday & Sunday

If returning a cheque by post 

You should write ‘cancelled’ across the front of the cheque. This will prevent it being cashed if it is lost in the post.

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