Benefit claims evidence

We need to see evidence of your identity, income and capital when you make a claim for benefits. We also need to see proof of your rent liability for Housing Benefit claims (unless you are a council tenant).

We need to see original documents. You can use our online form to submit evidence documents.

Evidence to support your application

Why do we ask for proof?

We are responsible for protecting public funds and detecting or preventing fraud so we need to check the information you give us when

• you apply for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support

• you have a change that may affect the amount of benefit or support

What do we use proof for?

We use the proof we ask you for to

• make sure you are entitled to Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support

• make sure we are giving you the right amount of benefit or support

When do we ask for proof?

We ask you for proof when

• we need to make sure the information you have given us is accurate and complete

• we need to work out how much support you should get

We may need to ask you to provide proof again if the proof you give us is incomplete, expired or unclear.

We do not usually need to ask you for proof

• if we have it already

• if we can check the information you have given us with another Council department

• if we can check the information you have given us with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

Whose proof do we ask for?

We may ask you to give us proof about yourself, your partner, children or other adults who live with you as part of your household.

Giving us proof

You should give us all the proof we ask for right away. If you cannot give it to us right away you must give it to us on time, otherwise we cannot make a decision on your claim or change your entitlement and your payments might stop.

The easiest way to give us proof we have asked for is to upload using the Evidence to support your application link above or email it to: benefits@runnymede.gov.uk

Time limits

You must give us all the proof we ask for within one month of the date we ask for it. We recommend you give it to us right away.

If you delay giving us all the proof we ask for

• we may not be able to pay you Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction

• your benefit or a reduction may stop or go down

• you may lose out on an increase in your benefit or reduction

If Housing Benefit is not paid or stops you may have to apply for Universal Credit for help with your rent.

If Council Tax Support is not paid or stops you will have to reapply.

If you do not give us all the proof we ask for

We will not be able to pay you benefit or support or your benefit or support may stop or go down:

• if you do not give us all the proof we ask for

• if you do not give us all the proof on time

Proof of National Insurance Number

Please provide one of the following

• P45 or P60 from a recent employer
• wage slips showing a National Insurance Number
• letter from the DWP showing a National Insurance Number
• letter or tax code from the HM Revenue and Customs
• Occupational Pension slip showing a National Insurance Number.

Proof of identity

We need two documents to prove your identity (and your partner's). We can't accept your Council Tax bill but can accept the following:

• passport - must be valid and current
• driving licence - both parts
• utility bill - for the last quarter
• birth certificate - not issued within the last two years
• bank statements
• building society book
• divorce papers
• marriage certificate
• medical card
• residency permit
• letter from the Home Office, a probation officer or a solicitor.

Other evidence

We also need to see proof of your:

• Rent
• Income
• Savings and capital
• Bedroom entitlement