Housing benefit, change of circumstances reporting

Bunnion

As an OAP I claim housing benefit which nearly covers half my rent on a council flat.
I am aware that I need to report any changes in income/savings to my local authority but I am perplexed by a phrase they use which is:
  If your (or your partner’s) savings go down significantly because you had to spend some.

My question is what is a significant amount?
To one person it might be £20 to another it might be £100 and to another it might be £500.

Plus do you have to declare what you have spent it on?

Any advice?

calcotti

Savings below £10,000 are ignored. Above that there is a reduction for every £500, or part thereof. So the significant changes are going across the £500 bands. 

Bunnion

@ calcotti.
Thank you for your prompt reply, it is most helpful.

Can I ask you one more question?
My State Pension increases by 2.5% in April as it does for all OAP's.
Do I need to report this change of circumstances to my local authority or is it done automatically via government departments?
Thanking you.

calcotti

Fairly sure local authority will know about changes to your SP.  When you get your next HB statement check what they have included.