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.
-
Where you are a tenant of a private landlord,
you should apply for a Pre-Tenancy Determination before you agree
to take on the tenancy. This will tell you how much rent is reasonable
for the property before you agree to the tenancy. This can then be
used as a guide as to how much benefit you may be entitled to.
- 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
