Current claim

If you currently receive Housing Benefit and there is a change in any of your personal circumstances, you must let us know as soon as possible.

Before reading the general information about how changes of circumstance effect benefit claims, click here for Hertsmere's Change of circumstances  electronic leaflet.

You can also telephone us in the first instance and we will send you the appropriate form(s) to fill in.

Change of Address

If you will be renting your new home from a private landlord you need to complete a new claim form.

If you are moving to a property which is owned by a Housing Association (and this is the only change in your circumstances), you need to complete a change of circumstances form, which can be found in change of circumstance leaflet. 

Your new tenancy agreement must be provided in support of the change.

If you have had other changes in your circumstances since last time you claimed then a new form should be completed.

Income Support/Job-seekers Allowance has stopped

If Job-seekers Allowance (income based) or Income Support has ceased then a new claim form should be completed and returned as soon as possible.

You should also provide proof of your new income and any savings you may have.

What happens if there are changes in my income or savings?

If your savings and/or income has changed (not Income Support or Job-seekers Allowance) you should contact us, notify us either in writing or directly. We will require you to provide proof.

What happens if there is a change in my rent?

If private rent charges change then you should confirm the rent changes in writing. Proof of the new rent level will be required.

What happens if there are changes to the people living with me?

If you or your partner leave the household, then a new form should be completed by the person remaining in the home. It will be likely that your income will have changed and details and proof will be required.

If a non-dependant or a dependant leave the household, you need to contact us to let us know what date they left and their forwarding address.

This is also the case if a boarder, tenant, sub-tenant or carer leave.

The service may not be able to remove someone from an address without details of their forwarding address and if you are unable to provide a forwarding address you will have to provide an explanation.

We need to be informed of all changes in your circumstances as soon as possible. If you delay, you may lose benefit.

In all cases, except where people are claiming through Job-centre Plus, it is your duty to notify us of circumstances. Where you claim through the Jobcentre Plus, it is your responsibility to notify them.