Evidence requirements

We need to see original documents as evidence to support the information given on your claim form. Examples of acceptable evidence are listed below. They are required for both yourself and your partner (if applicable):

Identity

We need to see evidence of who you are. This could be shown with the original documents of two or more of the following:

  • UK Passport

  • Driving licence

  • Birth certificate

  • Marriage certificate

  • Medical card with NHS number

  • National Insurance number card

  • Divorce, annulment, separation document

  • Tenancy agreement

  • Utility bill (paid within last quarter) gas, electricity, fixed telephone, water bill

  • Bank/Building Society statement/passbook dated within 4 weeks of claim

  • Life assurance policy

  • Home Office letter

  • EU Identity card

National Insurance Numbers

We need to see your National Insurance number included on an official document (e.g. wage-slip, letter from Benefits Agency etc)

If you work

You are required to send in 5 weekly, 3 fortnightly or 2 monthly payslips. Alternatively, you can ask your employer to complete an Earnings Certificate. If you are self employed you will need to send in your most recent profit and loss accounts. If you do not have accounts you will need to complete one of our Self employed forms which are available within the online forms section of our Online Services. You will need to have full details of the income and expenditure for your business in order to complete the form. If you have recently commenced self employment please send in an estimate of your expected income and we will ask for further details later.

If you receive State Benefits

We will need to see evidence of all Benefits received. This will preferably be in the format of an 'award notice' from the agency paying you the money.

Bank Accounts & Savings

We need to see evidence of all savings, capital and investments held.  These may be statements (we will need to see two full months' recent and consecutive statements), passbooks, certificates, etc.  If you own other properties or land, further details will be requested.

If you pay childcare costs

Please ask your childcare provider to complete a Certificate of Childcare Costs. You must be working, or receiving Statutory Sick Pay or Statutory Maternity Pay, and using a registered child care provider for us to take these costs into account.

Proof of Rent

For private tenancies we need either:

  • A current signed tenancy agreement,

  • Your rent book/rent receipts

  • A letter from your landlord, stating the date your tenancy started, the date you moved in, how much rent you are charged and whether any services are included.

  • A Rent Proof form signed and completed by your landlord

What if all the evidence required is not yet available?

If you cannot get all the evidence needed to send in with the form, send the form to us with as much evidence as you have available, so that your claim is not delayed. Please tell us that you will send in the missing information later. We will normally allow you up to one month to send in everything we need.