Changes That Must Be Reported Within A Month Of Them Occurring (Info)

The claimant must report the following changes within a month of them occurring in order to meet their responsibilities as defined in Code Of Practice 26 – What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit (COP 26). It is in the claimant’s interests to report a change of circumstances as soon as possible to reduce any overpayment that might arise as a result of that change

Changes to the household

The claimant must tell us if they claimed

• As an individual but are now married or in a civil partnership, or living with someone as if they are married or in a civil partnership
   
• As part of a couple, but they have separated or their partner has died

The claimant must tell us if they stop paying for childcare or the payments go down by £10.00 a week or more and the change lasts for more than 4 weeks in a row

Leaving the United Kingdom

The claimant must tell us if they, or their partner

• Leave the United Kingdom permanently
   
• Go abroad for a temporary absence of more than 8 weeks, or more than 12 weeks if they go abroad because they are ill, or because someone in their family is ill or has died
   
• Lose their right to reside in the United kingdom

The claimant must tell us if

• Their working hours drop below 16 a week or reduce to nil
   
• They are working 30 hours or more a week and their hours drop below 30 or reduce to nil. For couples with children it is their joint working hours that count towards the 30 hours
   
• They have been on strike for more than 10 continuous days

The claimant must tell us if a child or young person

• Starts to live with someone else or they die
   
• Starts to claim Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Income based Job Seekers Allowance, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit in their own right

The claimant must also tell us if a young person aged between 16 and 20

• Leaves full time education or approved training
   
• Starts advanced education, for example a degree course
   
• Starts training provided under a contract of employment
   
• Starts paid work, usually for more than 24 hours a week