Supporting documents for a benefit or reduction claim

What you'll need to provide

Any documents that you need to submit in support of your claim must be original documents. Photocopies are not acceptable.

If you do not send in all the information needed at the same time as your claim, this will delay the assessment of your claim.

If you have your supporting documents ready, you can start your application to claim for:

• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Reduction

If you have any questions about the documents you need

The visiting officer can check or collect any documents required in connection with your Benefit claim or for Council Tax Reduction purposes.

Contact your area's Benefits Team to find out more about the visiting service

Evidence of identity

This could be any of the following:

• birth certificate
• marriage certificate
• passport
• National Insurance number card or letter
• medical card
• driving licence
• UK residence permit
• European Economic Community (EEC) identity card
• recent gas or electricity bill

We may need to see several of these documents for each person.

Evidence of your address 

This could be any of the following:

• a recent gas bill
• an electricity bill
• a TV licence

Evidence of National Insurance number 

This could be any of the following:

• your National Insurance number card or letter
• payslips
• letters from the Department for Work and Pension (DWP) or HM Revenues and Customs

Evidence of capital, savings and investments 

This could be any of the following:

• all your bank, building society, post office or Credit Union account books
• full bank statements for all accounts
• certificates for premium bonds
• National Savings Certificates
• ISAs
• stocks
• shares
• unit trusts
• details of any other property you own other than the house you live in

We need to see evidence of any interest or dividends you, or any other adults in your household get on investments and savings. The evidence you send must show details for at least the last two months.

Evidence of earnings

You will need to provide evidence of your earnings and evidence for any other adults living in your home. 

You'll need provide your last five weekly payslips, your last three fortnightly payslips or your last two monthly payslips

We can provide proof of earnings slip if you do not have these payslips. 

Proof of earning slip form

If you or your partner are self-employed

We need to see your accounts for the last financial year.

If you do not have up to date accounts ask for an estimate of self-employed earnings form.

If you have been trading for less than six months

You will need to provide a summary of your trading records so far.

Evidence of other income

You must provide one of the following:

• pension slips from a former employer
• a letter from the court showing how much maintenance you are getting

We need to see evidence of any money people pay you for board and lodgings.

We also need this for any other adults living in your home. 

Evidence of benefits, allowances, Tax Credits or pensions

This could be any of the following:

• current award notices
• letters from the Department for Work and Pensions
• HM Revenue and Customs confirming how much you get

If you do not have evidence, let us know straight away.

We also need this for any other adults living in your home. 

Evidence of private rent and tenancy

You must provide one of the following:

• rent book
• rent receipts
• a recent tenancy agreement or a letter from your landlord

Letter from your landlord

You must provide one of the following:

• show your full name and address
• your landlord’s full name and address
• the tenancy start date
• the full rent charged 
• a breakdown of any services included in the rent

If you landlord doesn't provide you with a written tenancy agreement or a rent book, they will need to fill in the proof of rent form.

Evidence of other money paid out

You must provide one of the following:

• letters about student grants or maintenance agreements
• receipts from registered child carers
• evidence of any payment into a private or employer’s pension