Housing benefits

Changes to circumstances

If your household circumstances, which factor into your calculations of housing benefits, change the housing benefits amount may change. If this happens it is best to request a recalculation so that you will not end up in debt due to overpaid benefits.

Examples of changes in circumstances:

• The number of household members increases or decreases.

  The number of household members can be changed on HMS My pages.

• A child turns 18.

  The child has to log in to their HMS My pages and give their consent.

• Income or assets change.

  Housing benefits need to be recalculated.

• The rent period ends.

  HMS has to be notified if the contract will be renewed or if the application will be terminated because you are moving to another apartment.

Final settlement

Each year, when a confirmed tax return is available, usually around the end of May, beginning of June, we make a final settlement for the previous year.

If your income or assets have changed in the previous year it is possible that your housing benefits have either been overpaid and you are therefore in debt, or you have not received the full benefits amount you were entitled to for that year.

Credit balance

Credit balances will be transferred into your personal account registered in your housing benefits application.

Debt

If you are still receiving housing benefits, overpaid benefits will be deducted from the next benefits payments but never more than 25% of each months benefits amount. You can also request to get a collection claim and pay off the entire debt immediately.

If you are no longer receiving housing benefits, you can contact us and ask us to split the payment into monthly payments over a period of up to 12 months. Each payment must be 10,000 ISK or more.