The council has issued this reminder for residents claiming council tax support/housing benefit to get in touch if their personal circumstances have changed. Ed
Island residents who claim local council tax support/housing benefit are being contacted this month to confirm if there are any changes in their circumstances.
A company called Capacity Grid is writing to claimants on behalf of the council and asking them to complete a form to advise of any changes.
Fraud and Error Incentive Reduction Scheme
The initiative is part of the Fraud and Error Incentive Reduction Scheme, a government scheme to find any errors in claims, and in turn achieve targets set by the Department for Work and Pensions.
The form and calculations in relation to claims will be dealt with by Capacity Grid – but information is also being provided on the council’s website to assist claimants with an electronic version of the form and to provide advice for those who may be worried about being contacted by a third party. Please visit
You must inform IWC of changes
If you are in receipt of housing benefit and/or local council tax support it is a requirement that you must tell the council about any changes in your circumstances, which might affect your claim. You will need to supply evidence of the changes.
If you do not notify the council within one month for housing benefit (21 days for local council tax support), and the effect of the change would be to increase your entitlement – the change will be calculated from the Monday following the date you notify the council. If the effect of the change would be a decrease in your entitlement, the change will be calculated from the date the change occurred and any monies overpaid may be recovered from you.
Penalties for non-notification
You may face a penalty of at least £50 for housing benefit and £70 per council tax offence for failing to notify the council in the required time.
You must report all changes for you and your partner (if you have one), and anyone else living with you, such as the following:
- Changes to your income, savings or your rent.
- Changes to your address, or if you go into hospital or any absence from the dwelling likely to last over four weeks.
- Changes to the number or income of the people living in your household.
- If you or someone who lives with you starts to receive or stops receiving Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance/Pension Credit/Employment Support Allowance/a disability benefit/Universal Credit.
- If a child ceases full time education or takes up full time work or child benefit ceases.
- If you get married, form a civil partnership or start living with someone as if you are married or civil partners.
- If your savings/investments are valued over £16,000 for housing benefit purposes or over £6,000 for local council tax support, or increase above this level.
Image: nicokaiser under CC BY 2.0
