Change of circumstances
You need to report changes to your circumstances so you keep getting the right amount each month.
You need to report changes as soon as they happen. Any delay may mean you receive too much money and will have to make a repayment.
Changes in your circumstances can affect how much you’re paid for your whole assessment period - not just from the date you report them.
Changes can include:
You move from being out of work to being in work
Current Income-based Jobseekers Allowance / Income Support claimants, or their partners, who start work or increase their working hours beyond a set threshold are no longer able to make a new claim for Working Tax Credit. Those with an existing Tax Credit claim can continue to claim Tax Credit.
You move from in-work to out-of-work
Current Working Tax Credit claimants whose hours are reduced to less than 16 hours per week are no longer able to make a new claim to Income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Income Support.
You move from out of work to sick
Current Income-based Job Seekers Allowance / Income Support claimants are no longer able to make a new claim to Income-related Employment Support Allowance.
You move from sick to in-work (or permitted work becomes permanent)
Current Income-related Employment Support Allowance claimants are no longer able to make a new claim to Tax Credits. Those with an existing Tax Credit claim can continue to claim Tax Credit.
You move from being unfit for work (sick) to being available for work
Current Income-related Employment Support Allowance claimants are no longer able to make a new claim to Income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Income Support.
You move from work to sick (reduction in hours due to sickness)
Current Working Tax Credit claimants are no longer able to make a new claim to Income-related Employment Support Allowance.
Your household becomes responsible for a child for the first time
Claimants are no longer able to make a new claim to Tax Credits and should be advised if they wish to claim for additional financial support because they have a child living with them to make an online claim to Universal Credit. Those with an existing Tax Credit claim can continue to claim Tax Credit.
The claimants separate
For example, Current joint Tax Credit claimants who separate cannot make a new claim to Tax Credits as a single person. Claimants should be advised to make an online claim to Universal Credit if they continue to require additional financial support, if they have [a] child[ren] living with them or are on a low income.
The youngest child of a lone parent on income support reaches five years old or permanently leaves the household
Current Income Support claimants are no longer able to make a new claim to Income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Income-related Employment Support Allowance; when their award to Income Support ends, they should be advised to make an online claim to Universal Credit.
A carer on Income Support stops being entitled to Carers Allowance
Current Income Support claimants are no longer able to make a new claim to Income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Income-related Employment Support Allowance when their award to Income Support ends and should be advised to make an online claim to Universal Credit.
Stopping an existing claim when a claim to Universal Credit-Full Service is made
If a new claim to Universal Credit Full Service is made, and there is a current Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, or Tax Credits claim, then Universal Credit Full Service will contact Benefit Centres/Local Authorities and/or HM Revenue & Customs to stop the existing claims.