Duty to notify changes of circumstances
69.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (5) to (7), 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 in writing to the designated office.
(2) In the case of a claimant who sent or delivered his claim to a gateway office in accordance with regulation 65, a change of circumstances may be reported in writing to that office, or to any other gateway office of which he was notified on or with his claim form.
(3) The duty imposed on a person by paragraph (1) does not extend to changes—
(a)in the amount of rent payable to a housing authority;
(b)in the age of the claimant or that of any member of his family or of any non-dependants;
(c)in these Regulations.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3)(b) 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.
(5) Where a person resides in a postcode district identified in Part 1 or 2 of Schedule 2 to the Social Security (Claims and Information) Regulations 1999(1), he may notify the change of circumstances by giving notice in writing to any office of a designated authority displaying the ONE logo.
(6) A person on housing benefit who is also on state pension credit must report—
(a)changes to his tenancy, but not changes in the amount of rent payable to a housing authority;
(b)changes affecting the residence or income of any non-dependant normally residing with the claimant or with whom the claimant normally resides;
(c)any absence from the dwelling which exceeds or is likely to exceed 13 weeks.
(7) In addition to the changes required to be reported under paragraph (6) a person whose state pension credit comprises only a savings credit must also report—
(a)changes affecting a child living with him which may result in a change in the amount of housing benefit payable in his case, but not changes in the age of the child;
(b)changes affecting child tax credit or child benefit;
(c)any change in the amount of the claimant’s capital to be taken into account which does or may take the amount of his capital to more than £16,000;
(d)any change in the income or capital of—
(i)a non-dependant whose income and capital are treated as belonging to the claimant in accordance with regulation 24 (circumstances in which income of a non-dependant is to be treated as claimant's); or
(ii)a person to whom regulation 27(4)(e) refers,
and whether such a person or, as the case may be, non-dependant stops living or begins or resumes living with the claimant.
(8) A person who is on housing benefit and on state pension credit need only report to the designated office the changes specified in paragraphs (6) and (7).