Skip navigation Home Page News and Events Help Complaints Legal Information Contact Us Top of Page

Housing Benefit - changes in circumstances

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. You must report all changes in circumstances.

For example:

  •  you stop getting Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance
  •  your income changes
  •  your address changes
  •  a member of your household's circumstances changes
  •  your savings increase.

Failure to report a change in circumstances may result in an overpayment of benefit.

You must inform us in writing of your change in circumstances. You must provide all relevant information. If you don't tell us about the change and we pay you too much Housing Benefit, you may have to pay it back. You can report your change in circumstances by using the tear-off part of the Housing Benefit application form, or by writing a letter to us.

What we must do

Once we receive notification of your change in circumstances, we will re-assess your claim for housing benefit and issue a written notification of your Housing Benefit entitlement.   

FAQs

How do I notify you of a change in my circumstances?

You must notify us of any change immediately, preferably in writing by using the tear-off part of the Housing Benefit application form, or by writing a letter to us. Failure to notify us may lead to an overpayment of Housing Benefit.

For more information, please get in touch with us at the contacts below.

Contacts
Contact Point - Chester-le-Street
Durham County Council
Council Offices
Civic Centre
Newcastle Road
Chester-le-Street
County Durham
DH3 3UT
email:
Tel:
0191 387 1919
Fax:
0191 387 1583
Contact Point - Consett
Durham County Council
Council Offices
Civic Centre
Medomsley Road
Consett
County Durham
DH8 5JA
email:
Tel:
01207 693 693
Fax:
01207 218 200
Revenues and Benefits - Durham City
Durham County Council
17 Claypath
County Durham
DH1 1RH
Tel:
0845 9400 820
Contact Point - Easington
Durham County Council
Council Offices
Seaside Lane
Easington Village
Peterlee
County Durham
SR8 3TN
email:
Tel:
0191 527 0501
Fax:
0191 527 4497
Contact Point - Spennymoor
Durham County Council
Council Offices
Green Lane
Spennymoor
County Durham
DL16 6JQ
email:
Tel:
01388 816 166
Fax:
01388 824 105
Contact Point - Barnard Castle
Durham County Council
Council Offices
Teesdale House
Barnard Castle
County Durham
DL12 8EL
email:
Tel:
01833 690 000
Fax:
01833 637 269
Revenues and Benefits - Crook
Durham County Council
Council Offices
Civic Centre
North Terrace
Crook
County Durham
DL15 9ES
email:
Tel:
0845 337 0227
Fax:
01388 766 660