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Current Claims and Other Information

Changes in Circumstances

If you are currently in receipt of benefit you must tell us straightaway about any changes in circumstances for you, your partner and dependant children or any non-dependant who lives with you. Please tell us even if you have already told staff working in other offices such as the Department of Work and Pensions, Jobcentre Plus or other Council services.

Changes you must tell us about:

• If you or your partner stop or start getting Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance or any other state benefits
• If you or your partner's state benefits or any other income, increase or decrease
• If you or your partner's wages increase or decrease
• If you or your partner's savings or investments increase or decrease
• If the number of people living with you alters
• If any of your children leave school
• If you move (see also Electoral Register details)
• If you have a child
• If your rent changes
• If any non-dependants income, savings, benefits or any other circumstances change

This is not a full list - you should tell us about any other changes that you think may affect your entitlement. If in doubt - let us know.

You must notify us within one calendar month of a change in circumstances otherwise you may lose out on benefit.

For an online notification of change of circumstances, please click here.

For a printable notification of change of circumstances, please click here.

Hospitalisation

If you are going into hospital you should immediately notify the Department of Work and Pensions and the Benefit service at Stafford Borough Council.

This is important as in most cases your benefit entitlement will have to be reassessed to take account of your new circumstances. Most benefits are reduced during a stay in hospital usually after either four or six weeks. 

If you were not claiming any form of benefit prior to entering hospital you may now be entitled to claim.

When you come out of hospital you should notify the Department of Work and Pensions and Stafford Borough Council Benefits Service.

This is important as you will need to have your claim reassessed when you return home. You may also be entitled to other benefits if you have become disabled as a result of your illness.

To find out if the benefit you are claiming is affected by a stay in hospital or if there are any other benefits that you may be entitled to please contact us using the details below.

Overpayments

An overpayment is an amount of benefit that has been paid, but for which there is no entitlement under the Regulations.

For Further Information

Contact: Customer Contact Centre

Email: benefits@staffordbc.gov.uk

Telephone: 01785 619478