Housing benefit - change of circumstances

Your entitlement to Housing Benefit is based on the information you gave us on your original application form, or updated details sent to us since that time. The details used in the benefit calculation are shown in your notification letters that we send you.

During the lifetime of your benefit claim, your details may change and affect the amount of benefit you are entitled to.

It is important to let us know of any changes so that we can pay you the correct amount of benefit. Some changes will mean that we are able to pay you more benefit whereas other changes may mean that we will pay you less.

If a change occurs, you must let us know. You still have to tell us about any changes, even if you have already told someone else such as the Department for Work and Pensions, or another Council department.

Changes you need to tell us about

Changes to income for you, your partner, any other adults or children who live in your home

• earnings going up or down
• getting a new benefit/pension/tax credit
• losing a benefit/pension/tax credit
• the amount of benefit/pension/tax credit changing
• getting an occupational or private pension
• a change in occupational or private pension
• Income Support/Jobseekers Allowance ending

Changes in the capital/savings of you or your partner

• bank or building society accounts capital/savings going up or down
• getting capital/savings

Changes in your family and/or other people who live with you

• a birth
• marriage
• child leaving school
• someone leaving/joining your home
• a disability
• someone going into/coming out of hospital
• fostering a child
• a bereavement

Changes in your home

• moving into a new home
• your rent going up or down
• a change in the sort of tenancy you have

We will need to see proof of your changes. Our Supporting Document List gives examples of the documents you can provide to us.

Claiming housing benefit on two homes

Housing Benefit is usually only paid for the home in which you are currently living and paying rent.  However, there are some circumstances where you may be able to get help for two homes, for example:

• You have a large family and the Council has housed you in two separate  properties;
• You are a student or trainee, one of a couple, and have to live separate rented accommodation because of your course or work;
• You have moved into other rented accommodation due to fear of violence;
• You have to move into a new home which you have to pay rent for but you must still pay rent for your old home

Further information about this is provided on this page, but if, having read the information you are not sure if any of these apply to yourself, please call the Benefits Helpline on 01622 602557.

Large Families

If you have a large family and the council has housed you in two separate dwellings because your household is too large for them to place in one home, benefit maybe paid on both properties.  To qualify, both properties must be public housing whether or not provided directly by the council and should be adjacent to each other.  There is no time limit for this provision.

Students or Trainees

Couples who are living in separate rented accommodation may receive benefit for both properties.

We must consider that separate accommodation is unavoidable and it is reasonable to pay benefit on two homes.  There is no time limit on this provision.

Fear of Violence

Where you have left your former home and remain absent due to fear of violence occurring either in your home by another person or outside your home by a former member of your family, benefit may be paid.

In all cases, we must investigate if it is reasonable to do so and benefit may be paid for a maximum of 52 weeks.  For benefit to be paid, you must intend to return to live in the property you left.

Unavoidable Overlapping Benefit

If you have moved to a new home which you rent and you still have to pay rent for your old home, help may be available.  If the situation is unavoidable, e.g you were offered a new home to rent but were unable to give your landlord the notice he required, benefit may be paid for up to 4 weeks on your old home.  For this to be considered you must have moved into your new property.

Contact us 

Visit the Gateway, King Street, Maidstone where a Customer Services Advisor can scan details of your changes and the supporting documents and give them back straight away. Email benefits@maidstone.gov.uk with description of your changes and visit or post the necessary supporting documents to us or post the details of your changes and supporting documents to us.