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Council Tax & Housing Benefit

Moving Home

When you are in receipt of Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit and you move house, you have certain responsibilities in respect of that benefit. Similarly the Housing Benefit Section has responsibilities and duties to you.

• Online Change of Address Notification form

You must:

• Tell us as soon as you move house. Please try to tell us before you move but if you cannot so this, tell us as soon after the move as you can. It is important that you let us know quickly as any overpaid benefit caused by your move will be recoverable.
• You will need to complete a new Application Form for Benefit for your new home.
• If you are unable to move into your new home straight away, please contact the Helpline on (01304) 872199 for further information.
• You must also tell us about any other changes in your circumstances.

We will:

• Assess your claim as soon as possible once all information required to process the claim has been received.
• You may be able to apply for benefit at your old and new addresses - "overlapping benefit". We will look fairly at the reasons why you may need benefit for two properties. We will decide if benefit can be paid and inform you in writing of the decision made. If we have refused payment of benefit on two addresses, we will give you the reasons. You have the right to appeal against this decision. Further details are available in the page "Appeals".

Further information

It is always advisable to get in contact with us before moving. This applies to all claimants, but especially if you are already or are thinking about renting a privately rented property. Please contact the Helpline on (01304) 872199.

We will be able to give you an estimate on the amount of benefit that you may be entitled to. If you have to pay part of your rent or Council Tax out of your other living expenses, you may decide that you cannot afford that particular accommodation.

Benefit can only be paid once you have moved into a property. For Benefit to be paid from the start of your tenancy, you should complete and return a new Application Form to any of our offices within the week that you move in.

If you have any questions or would like any more information, please contact the Helpline on (01304) 872199 or write to:

Benefits Section
Dover District Council
White Cliffs Business Park
Dover
Kent
CT16 3PJ

E-mail: revenues@dover.gov.uk

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