Benefits supporting evidence required
What supporting evidence is required?
There are a number of documents that must be
provided in support of a benefit application to allow a claimant's
benefit entitlement to be determined. All of these documents
must be original.
Proof of identity and National Insurance number
Claimants must provide evidence of identity and National
Insurance number for themselves and their partner. A leaflet
listing some of the documents that are acceptable is available
from the downloadable
documents section at the bottom of this page.
Proof of income
If you are employed, you are required to provide five wage
slips if you are paid weekly, two wage slips if you
are paid monthly or three wage slips if you are paid
fortnightly. If you do not have wage slips, an official
letter from your employer may be acceptable. The letter
should include the following information:
- The full name and address of your employer
- The number of hours worked and the period covered
- Gross income for the period and year to date
- Income Tax deducted
- National Insurance Contributions deducted
- Details of occupational pension or personal
pension payments
- Method of payment (such as cheque, cash, BACS etc).
Alternatively we can send a 'Certificate of Earned
Income' directly to your employer. This form requests
all the relevant earnings details that we
require.
Proof of savings/capital
To establish your savings/capital, we will need to see your
last two months bank statement or the up to date pass books
for each account that you hold, as well as details of any other
investments you may have, for example; stocks and shares,
PEPs, ISAs, Premium Bonds, National Savings Certificates, land or
property etc.
Proof of rent
If you rent your home and wish to claim Housing Benefit, you
will need to provide up to date proof of your rent. This is usually
your tenancy agreement and rent book or a signed and dated
letter from your landlord confirming the following:
- The full name and address of your landlord and managing
agent
- Your tenancy start date and the term of the tenancy
- The amount of rent payable
- How often the rent is to be paid
- Details of any services included in the rent (such as meals,
heating, lighting, hot water etc)
- Details of any payments that have already been made (amounts
and dates of the payments).
The application form states what supporting evidence is required
to allow the Council to process a claim. These documents must
be original, photocopies will not be accepted.
If a claimant cannot provide evidence straightaway they should
send in their form and submit the evidence later.