You must tell us right away if anything changes for you or anyone who lives with you as this could affect your Housing Benefit. If we find that we have paid you too much Housing Benefit you will have to pay us back.

Housing Benefit law says that changes of circumstances must be notified within one month of them happening.

Here are some of the things you must tell us about:

• If you stop or start getting Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance or any other benefit
• If your rent goes up or down (private tenants only)
• If you or your partner's wages go up or down
• If the other money that you and your family have coming in goes up or down
• If your savings or your family's savings change
• If anyone who lives with you has a change in their situation, such as starting work
• If anyone who lives with you moves out
• If anyone moves in to live with you
• If you change your address
• If you go away for 4 weeks or more (opens in new window)
• If you are refused asylum by the Home Office

These are only some of the changes that you must tell us about. If you are not sure whether a change needs reporting you should tell us anyway.

If you tell us about any changes late, you may lose out on increases in your benefit or reduction. If you give us false information or do not tell us of changes on time, you may be prosecuted.