If you fail to report changes affecting your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction in a timely manner, you might face a penalty. Southend issues a £70 penalty for failing to notify changes within 21 days, which could escalate to an additional £280 if you fail to supply the same information after receiving a penalty. Additionally, overpayment situations can arise from delayed notifications, which the council will seek to recover.
Here’s a summary of potential penalties:
| Circumstance | Penalty Amount |
|---|---|
| Failure to notify changes within 21 days | £70 |
| Subsequent failure to provide same information | Additional £280 |
| Overall overpayment recovery | Full amount owed |
It's important to notify the council as soon as possible to avoid these penalties and potential overpayments. If you need to report a change, you can do so online through the Citizen Access Benefits portal.