Report a change in circumstances
Creating a new test service with the GOV.UK Prototype Kit
About the project
People often need to report the same change in circumstances to multiple government services — for example when they move home, change jobs, or take on caring responsibilities.
These updates are currently handled by separate services, with different forms, language and expectations. This creates duplication, increases the risk of errors, and places unnecessary burden on people during already stressful life events.
This project explores what a single, user-centred reporting journey could look like.
The solution
I designed a prototype GOV.UK service that allows someone to report a change in circumstances once, then choose which government services should be informed.
The prototype:
Supports reporting multiple changes in one journey
Uses clear, non-technical language and familiar GOV.UK patterns
Sets honest expectations about what the service does and does not do
Prioritises accessibility, content clarity and system truth over visual flair
The service was built using the GOV.UK Prototype Kit and standard GDS components, with realistic error handling and edge cases.
The outcome
Designing for complex service ecosystems, not just single transactions
Careful use of language to avoid misleading users
Comfort working within GDS constraints and patterns
Thoughtful handling of sensitive life events
While this is not a live service, the prototype shows how a traditionally fragmented process could be made simpler, clearer and more humane
