Lewes District Council

Your benefit is calculated using the information you gave us on your application form. If these details change, the amount of benefit you receive can be affected and there may be an overpayment of benefit or you may be entitled to more benefit.

If the change would mean you are entitled to more benefit, it is important to tell us immediately as you may lose benefit if you do not tell us within a month.

If the change means you’re entitled to less benefit, you must tell us as soon as possible. If we’re paying you too much, you will be asked to pay it back.

Some examples of changes you should tell us about are

• Changes in your or your partner's income/savings including changes in the amount of earnings, Tax Credits, occupational pensions etc.
• Someone comes to live in your house eg a relative, joint tenant or sub-tenant etc.
• A student in your household moves out of halls of residence and starts to rent accommodation privately and be registered for Council Tax elsewhere.
• Someone leaves your household (including going into hospital, rest home, university or prison)
• You stop (or start) receiving child benefit for any child or  young person
• An Increase/decrease in your rent (if you pay rent)
• You or anyone in your household stops or starts working
• You or anyone in your household stops or starts receiving Income Support, Job Seeker's Allowance, Pension or Tax Credits

If you are thinking about moving, before agreeing to accept and sign for a new tenancy, check your notice period with your current landlord. If your rent is due monthly, the usual notice period is one month.  Housing Benefit can normally only be paid at one address. Unless it is unavoidable for you to hold a tenancy on two properties, you may liable for the rent on one of the properties.

PDF
 Council Tax Benefit & Housing Benefit Claim Form (0.39mb)

PDF
 Housing Benefit & Council Tax Benefit - Change In Circumstance Form (0.05mb)

Returning the form

Offices

You can visit any of the locations below and collect a claim form or leave a completed form and have your documents verified.  If you want to speak to somebody for specific advice then you will need to visit the Lewes office.

Telephone Enquiries

Our staff will be happy to answer your questions and send you a claim form.

• Call 01273 471600
• Monday to Thursday: 8.30am - 4.45pm
• Fridays: 8.30am to 4.15pm