TCM0258120 - Renewals - change of circumstances: Renewals - notices

Information

This guidance details the numbers, names and purpose of forms used in the renewal process and a brief overview of that process.

Note: Do not make any amendments to the Previous Year (PY) claim once the 1st Specified Date (1SD) has passed unless changing an estimated income figure to actual income. Follow the guidance in TCM0042260.

Note: The computer cannot finalise a PY award if finalisation is inhibited - for example, if there is an appeal outstanding in PY.

Note: From April 2010, in joint claims, notices will be issued to the household, not to each customer. With the exception of Household Breakdown cases, where a separate S17 notice will be issued to each customer.

Notices issued
Automatic cases
Customer in more than one household within the year
Reply required cases that cannot be automatically renewed
Change of circumstances
Reply required cases - Annual Declaration not returned but change of circumstances received
Reply required cases - estimated income provided, actual income provided at a later date

Notices issued

  • TC603R - An Annual Review form showing all information, including any change of circumstances that have occurred in PY
  • TC603D - An Annual Declaration form asking the customer to complete their income and/or benefits details
  • TC603(D2) - Annual Declaration issued when the customer is required to confirm their actual income for PY-1 as well as confirming their income for PY.
  • TC606 - reminder for additional information regarding a change of circumstances indicated on the TC603D or TC603(D2)

Automatic cases

The customer or household will receive form TC603R only. This contains the details of the customer’s circumstances and income for PY and the payment profile for the Current Year (CY) and CY+1 on the reverse.

If a declaration is made and a different income is reported, then PY will be finalised (if finalisation is not inhibited), a Finalised Award Notice (FAN) is issued for PY and, if there is ongoing entitlement, a Current Year Award Notice (CYAN) is issued for CY.

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Customer in more than one household within the year

If a customer has been a member of more than one household within a year, they will receive an S17 and subsequent Award notices appropriate to their circumstances for both their current and previous households.

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Reply required cases that cannot be automatically renewed

Forms TC603R and TC603D or TC603(D2) are issued to the household.

Note: The form TC603(D2) is issued if the customer must provide income for PY and actual income for PY-1.

When the customer returns their Annual Declaration (TC603D/D2), a Finalised Award Notice (FAN) is issued for PY and, if there is ongoing entitlement, a Current Year Award Notice (CYAN) issued for CY.

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Change of circumstances

If the customer returns their Annual Declaration indicating a change of circumstances, but has not provided details of the change, the Annual Declaration will be captured and a Statement Like Award Notice (SLAN) issued for PY. If there is a provisional award for CY, a CY Provisional Award Notice (PAN) will also be issued.

On return of the change of circumstances, a PY Finalised Award Notice (FAN) and if there is ongoing entitlement a Current Year Award Notice (CYAN) will be issued.

If the change of circumstances is not returned, a reminder form TC606 is issued 30 days prior to the 1st Specified Date (1SD). If the change of circumstances is still not returned, the case will be finalised, 62 days after the 1SD. A Finalised Award Notice (FAN) for PY is issued, along with a Statement of Account if there is a provisional award for CY, advising that the CY provisional award has been terminated. A Notice to Pay will be issued to recover any provisional CY payments that have been made.

Note: In line with other areas, a Management decision may be taken not to issue reminder notices.

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Reply required cases - Annual Declaration not returned but change of circumstances received

Forms TC603R and TC603D or TC603(D2) are issued to the household.

Once the change of circumstances is processed, a Statement Like Award Notice (SLAN) and (if there is a provisional award) a Provisional Award Notice (PAN) are issued.

If the Annual Declaration is not returned, a reminder form TC606 is issued. If the AD is still not returned, the case will be finalised 62 days after the 1SD. A Finalised Award Notice (FAN) for PY is issued, along with a Statement of Account (SOA), advising that the CY provisional award, if there is one, has been terminated. A Notice to Pay will be issued to recover any provisional CY payments that have been made.

Note: The computer will not finalise a PY award if finalisation in inhibited - for example, if there is an appeal outstanding in PY.

Note: In line with other areas, a Management decision may be taken not to issue reminder notices.

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Reply required cases - estimated income provided, actual income provided at a later date

If the customer returns their Annual Declaration before 1SD and provides an estimate of income, the customer will finalise on this estimated income. The customer is required to give their actual income before 2SD, 31 January.

For further guidance, use TCM0258180.

Note: The customer must supply their actual income figure before the 2nd Specified Date (2SD). For further guidance, use TCM0254220.