Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit claims are now open-ended.
However, to ensure that your benefit entitlement is correct, we may write to you and ask you to complete another application form during the year. This is now known as a Review.
Please also ensure that you advise us of all changes in your personal or financial circumstances. Click here to find out more about changes of circumstances.
Council Tax Benefit Review Visits
Havering is committed to providing a fast and effective Benefits Service that meets the needs of customers and complies with government standards. To enable this, the Benefits Service undertake to visit 20% of their customers during the year to make sure that they are receiving the correct amount of benefit.
As part of The London Borough of Havering's Verification Framework some cases in which a Housing Benefit review is required may be the subject of a home visit. A visiting officer will visit the property you reside in to carry out a full Housing Benefit review in which the visiting officer will gather information of your current circumstances and record any changes to your circumstances. Please note you will be notified of the home visit and you are required to be available for the appointment.
The visiting officer will also need proof and evidence of all your income and capital as well as your household details as part of the Verification Framework review. If you feel the appointment made is not of your convenience then please contact the Benefit Services in order to make another appointment to book a alternative date.
Please also note that the Visiting Officer service is also available for any claimant who is Housebound or sick and unable to get to the Public Advise & Service Centres, please telephone the Call Centre to arrange/cancel a home visit on the number listed to the right..