Change of circumstances and suitable evidence

Change of ownership or liability

When there are changes in property ownership or liability, you must tell LPS and the Housing Executive and give them evidence of the changes.

Examples of change of ownership or liability include:

• you sell the property
• you sell or transfer part ownership of the property to someone else
• you buy or acquire a share of the property previously owned by someone else
• someone who owned the property with you dies
• the use of your property changes because you or your partner becomes or stops being self-employed at home for example as a childminder

Information the Housing Executive and LPS needs about  ownership changes

You need to tell the Housing Executive and LPS:

• date of change
• your new address, whether you are the owner of the new property and want to continue claiming rates Housing Benefit and Rate Relief
• name and address of any additional joint owners
• percentage each person owns of the property, for example 50 per cent each, 75 per cent, 25 per cent split or one third each

You need to send LPS:

• evidence confirming the change in legal ownership of the property
• evidence confirming registration as a childminder

Changes to a household

When there are changes in a household, you must tell the Housing Executive and  give them evidence of the changes.

Examples of changes to a household include:

• someone you own the property jointly with moves in or out of the property
• someone living in the property has a baby
• another adult or child comes to live with you
• someone moves out, including adult children going to college or university
• someone who has been living with you dies
• someone who lives with you is aged 16 to 20 and has left full-time education
• someone who lives with you is aged 16 to 20 and has started a full-time education course at school, college or university
• someone who lives with you aged over 18 finishes their education course as a student

Information the Housing Executive needs about changes to a household

You need to tell the Housing Executive:

• date of the change
• the person's full name, date of birth and  National Insurance number

You need to send the Housing Executive:

• evidence of student status (for example copy of student ID card or copy of student loan, grant or bursary award letter)
• evidence of income for person aged over 18 who is not in education
• Housing Benefit and Rate Relief guidance notes

Universal Credit

If you receive Universal Credit, your entitlement to Housing Benefit and Rate Relief will end. To get help paying your rates, you must apply for Rate Rebate.

• Homeowners and tenants applying for Rate Rebate

Changes to a household income

When there are changes to a household income, this could affect the amount of Housing Benefit or Rate Relief you get. You must tell the Housing Executive and give them evidence of the changes.

Information the Housing Executive needs about household income changes

You need to tell the Housing Executive:

• date of the change
• who is affected by the change and how they're affected

When telling the Housing Executive about changes to household income, you will need to send LPS:

• payslips if you're employed
• certified accounts if you're self-employed
• pension advice notice if you have pension income (except State Pension or Pension Credit)

Payslips

Payslips must show the new employed earnings. These should be printed, recent and consecutive. You should send:

• five payslips if paid weekly
• three payslips if paid fortnightly
• two payslips if paid every four weeks or monthly

If you don't have printed payslips, your employer must complete a Certificate of Earnings form. You can download a form below.

To confirm self-employed earning, you will need to provide the most recent certified accounts, compiled by an accountant. If these are not available,  you can download a self-employed form.

For regular pension income, you must provide an advice note showing the gross and net amount of occupational pension paid. Alternatively you can provide a letter from the pension provider confirming the gross and net amounts paid, and the frequency of payment, for example monthly or annual.

Getting a Certificate of Earnings and self-employed earnings forms

You can download Certificate of Earnings and self-employed earnings forms below:

• Certificate of Earnings form
• Self employed form

To ask the Housing Executive for forms, telephone:

• Housing Benefit helpline: 03448 920 902
• Text Relay:18001 03448 920 902

Change of capital

When there are changes in capital, you must tell the Housing Executive and  give them evidence of the changes.

Examples of a change of capital are:

• your savings, investments, additional property or land increases or decreases in value
• your partner’s capital increases or decreases in value
• you or your partner buy or acquire additional property or land, other than your home
• you or your partner sell additional property or land, other than your home

Information the Housing Executive needs about a change to capital

You need to tell the Housing Executive:

• by how much the capital has changed
• the reason for the change
• the address of the property or land
• the value of the property or land
• the name and address of anyone else who jointly owns the additional property or land
• where a large sum of money has been received, details about the origin of the money
• where a large sum of money has been withdrawn, details about how the money was used

You need to send the Housing Executive:

• the most recent statement for each bank, building society or credit union account held, showing transactions covering at least the past two months
• a map showing the outline of the land and the Folio number (if available)

Change in expenses

When there are changes in expenses, you must tell the Housing Executive and give them evidence of the changes.

Examples of a change in expenses include:

• you or your partner start paying a registered childminder or other approved childcare provider to look after one or more children
• you or your partner stop paying a registered childminder or other approved childcare provider to look after one or more children
• you or your partner start making payments towards the cost of fees for a child in full time third level education
• you or your partner stop making payments towards the cost of fees for a child in full time third level education

Information the Housing Executive needs about changes in expenses

You must tell the Housing Executive:

• date of change
• childminder's name and address
• names of any children cared for
• the amount charged per child and how often payment is made

You need to send the Housing Executive:

• a copy of the childminder’s registration certificate
• a receipt for payment showing the names of the children cared for and amount charged for each child
• a copy of your most recent Tax Credit letter of entitlement showing the childcare and any payments of the childcare element in Working Tax Credit

For more information, you can visit: What to do if your circumstances change

More useful links

• Getting a rates refund
• Unclaimed benefits? Make the call
• Benefits and financial support
• Benefits when you retire
• Managing debt
• Managing money