You are required to provide documentary proof for yourself and your partner. We will need to see proof of your National Insurance number, identity, rent, income and capital as well as for members of your household. If you do not provide proof your claim cannot be processed. All documents you provide will need to be original documents.
- UK passport / other country passport.
- Aliens Registration Certificate.
- IND SAL letter or travel document.
- Driving Licence.
- Birth, marriage, death certificates.
- Adoption certificate.
- Separation document.
- Annulment document.
- National ID card.
- NINO card with NHS number.
- NI contributions form.
- Medical card with NHS number.
- HM forces employment certificate.
- Change of name document.
- State benefit Book/Notification letter.
- Sub-contractors certificate.
- P45.
- E111.
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- Pay slip.
- Tenancy agreement, rent book or rent card.
- Utility bills such as gas, electricity and water.
- Fixed telephone bills.
- Railcard, travelcard and bus-pass.
- Season ticket.
- Bank or Building Society debit or credit cards.
- Store charge card.
- Bank or building society statement / passbook.
- Shares certificates.
- Life insurance policy.
- Trade Union membership card.
As you will see from the list above specific information must now be provided to establish your identity. At least two items of evidence must be provided; with at least one of those being from the primary evidence list and one of them should include confirmation of your NINO.
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If you pay rent we need proof of your tenancy (Council tenants do not need to give proof). One or more of the following is acceptable as proof of your tenancy:
All evidence provided must contain all of the following information:
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The name and address of your landlord.
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The name and address of the managing agent (if you have one).
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The date your agreement started.
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The amount of rent payable.
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What services, if any, are included in your rent.
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The payment period - e.g. monthly, weekly or calendar monthly.
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If you or your partner have earnings we must see: the last five weekly wage slips, the last three fortnightly wage slips, OR the last two monthly wage slips.
The evidence must include:
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The name and address of the employer(s).
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The number of hours worked and over what period.
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Gross income for the pay period and the year to date.
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Income Tax deductions in the pay period and the year to date.
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National Insurance contributions.
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Occupational or personal pension contributions.
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The method of payment - e.g. by cash, into a bank or building society account or by cheque.
If you do not have wage slips you can ask your employer to complete a certificate of earnings. Please contact the Benefits Section for a certificate of earned income form or download the form below. If you have just started work a letter from your employer stating the amount of your gross and net pay will be enough until you get the required wage slip. When you get them you must send them in.
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You must provide evidence of all the benefits you get. This should be the letter of entitlement that is sent to you. If you have your benefit paid into a bank account we can use the bank statement as well.
Evidence of all capital must be provided.
These include all bank or building society accounts you have as well as other investments such as shares.
Original bank and building society statements that show debit and credit entries for a two-month period, prior to the application being made, must be provided (a slip showing the outstanding balance is not acceptable).
Original documents showing proof of ownership of other investments, e.g. share certificates, dividend statements, Bonds, Unit Trust stocks and shares, must also be provided.
If you own a property, not including the one in which you live, you will need to provide information concerning the value of the property and details of outstanding mortgages or loans secured on it.
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Evidence of all income must be provided.
What if I am self-employed?
Unless you are in receipt of DLA care, Attendance allowance or are registered Blind, deductions will be made from your entitlement if you have other adult members of your family living with you.
If they have a high degree of income and you would expect to have the maximum deduction made you do not need to provide their income details - just indicate this on the form.
However, if you wish for a lower rate of deduction to be made you will need to provide the GROSS income details for all non-dependants in your household. Original documents showing their income are required.
This not only includes the wages they receive but also other income such as Working Family Tax Credit, and interest on any savings.
The sections above explain what evidence / information must be provided.
Please note that only original documents MUST now be provided as proof – Photocopies are no longer acceptable.
Unless you are in receipt of DLA care, Attendance allowance or are registered Blind, deductions will be made from your entitlement if you have other adult members of your family living with you.
If they have a high degree of income and you would expect to have the maximum deduction made you do not need to provide their income details - just indicate this on the form.
However, if you wish for a lower rate of deduction to be made you will need to provide the GROSS income details for all non-dependants in your household. Original documents showing their income are required.
This not only includes the wages they receive but also other income such as Working Family Tax Credit, and interest on any savings.
The sections above explain what evidence / information must be provided.
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