The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010

Amendment of the Social Security (Notification of Change of Circumstances) Regulations 2001

7.—(1) Regulation 4 of the Social Security (Notification of Change of Circumstances) Regulations 2001(1) (change affecting housing benefit or council tax benefit) is amended as follows.

(2) For paragraph (1) substitute—

“(1) Subject to paragraphs (1A) to (1C), where the benefit affected by the change of circumstances is housing benefit or council tax benefit, notice must be given to the relevant authority at the designated office—

(a) in writing; or

(b) by telephone—

(i) where the relevant authority has published a telephone number for that purpose or for the purposes of making a claim unless the authority determines that in any particular case or class of case notification may not be given by telephone; or

(ii) in any case or class of case where the relevant authority determines that notice may be given by telephone; or

(c) by any other means which the relevant authority agrees to accept in any particular case.”.

(3) After paragraph (1B) insert—

“(1C) Notice may be given to the appropriate DWP office by telephone where all the following conditions are met—

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

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

(c) as a result of the change, either entitlement to housing benefit or council tax benefit will end, or the amount of benefit will be reduced; and

(d) a telephone number has been provided for that purpose.”.

(4) In paragraph (2) after “In this regulation” insert ““appropriate DWP office”,”.

(1)

S.I. 2001/3252. Regulation 4 was amended by S.I. 2006/217 and 2010/444.