The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006

Duty to notify changes of circumstances E+W+S

88.—(1) Subject to [F1 paragraphs (3) and (6)], if at any time between the making of a claim and a decision being made on it, or during the award of housing benefit, there is a change of circumstances which the claimant, or any person by whom or on whose behalf sums payable by way of housing benefit are receivable, might reasonably be expected to know might affect the claimant's right to, the amount of or the receipt of housing benefit, that person shall be under a duty to notify that change of circumstances by giving notice F2 ... to the designated office—

[F3 (a) in writing or, where the relevant authority has published a telephone number for the purposes of regulation 83 (time and manner in which claims are to be made), by telephone unless the authority determines, in any particular case, that notice must be in writing or may be given otherwise than in writing or by telephone; or

(b) in writing if in any class of case the relevant authority requires written notice unless the authority determines, in any particular case, that notice may be given otherwise than in writing.]

F4 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) The duty imposed on a person by paragraph (1) does not extend to changes in—

(a) the amount of rent payable to a housing authority;

(b) the age of the claimant or that of any member of his family or of any non-dependants;

(c) these Regulations;

(d) in the case of a claimant on income support[F5 , an income-based jobseeker's allowance or an income-related employment and support allowance], any circumstances which affect the amount of income support[F6 , an income-based jobseeker's allowance or an income-related employment and support allowance] but not the amount of housing benefit to which he is entitled, other than the cessation of that entitlement to income support[F6 , an income-based jobseeker's allowance or an income-related employment and support allowance] .

(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3)(b) or (d) a claimant shall be required by paragraph (1) to notify the designated office of any change in the composition of his family arising from the fact that a person who was a member of his family is now no longer such a person because he ceases to be a child or young person.

F7 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F8 (6) Where—

(a) the claimant or the claimant’s partner is in receipt of income support or jobseeker’s allowance;

(b) the change of circumstance is that the claimant or the claimant’s partner starts employment; and

(c) as a result of that change of circumstance, either entitlement to that benefit will end or, where the claimant or claimant’s partner is in receipt of a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance, the amount of that benefit will be reduced,

the claimant may discharge the duty in paragraph (1) by notifying the change of circumstance by telephoning the appropriate DWP office if a telephone number has been provided for that purpose.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 88(1) substituted (22.12.2008) by The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2987), regs. 1, 2(4)(a)

F2 Words in reg. 88(1) omitted (20.12.2006) by virtue of The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2967), regs. 1, 2(4)(a)

F3 Reg. 88(1)(a)(b) added (20.12.2006) by The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2967), regs. 1, 2(4)(b)

F4 Reg. 88(2) omitted (1.10.2008) by virtue of The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2299), regs. 1, 2(8)(b)

F5 Words in reg. 88(3)(d) substituted (27.10.2008) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1082), regs. 1, 20(a)

F6 Words in reg. 88(3)(d) substituted (27.10.2008) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1082), regs. 1, 20(b)

F7 Reg. 88(5) omitted (1.10.2008) by virtue of The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2299), regs. 1, 2(8)(b)

F8 Reg. 88(6) added (22.12.2008) by The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2987), regs. 1, 2(4)(b)