Changes that you would need to report to us could be about you or someone who lives with you.

Some examples are:

• stopping or starting to receive job seekers allowance (JSA), income support, employment support allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit
• an increase or decrease in income or capital
• the number of people in your household changes 
• stopping or starting work
• moving house
• rent goes up or down
• stopping or starting to receive another state benefit
• anything else that you think may affect your claim

If you do not tell us about a change that affects your claim, you could be receiving too much benefit and have to pay some back to us. Or you may not be receiving enough benefit and miss out on your entitlement.

If you fail to tell us about a change you are aware of this could lead to prosecution for fraud under the Fraud Act 2001. Find out more about benefit fraud.

We will usually suspend your claim when we have been told about a change. We do this to try to prevent as much overpayment as we can.

We will usually need more information about your new circumstances to reassess your claim and remove the suspension. If we write to you, you must reply to us within one month of the letter or form being sent to you.

Yes - you need to tell us immediately if you start work.

If you have been receiving income support, JSA, incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance or ESA for the last 26 weeks continuously, and you expect your job to last for more than five weeks, you may be entitled to an extended payment.

An extended payment is an award of four weeks benefit support at the same rate as you were receiving whilst on your state benefit. After the four weeks your claim will be reassessed based on your new income and capital, for example wage and tax credits.