Evidence required for changes to your housing benefits claim

Changes to your address, rent or who to pay

Moving out of borough/ within the borough;  complete the change of address form.

Evidence for changes to people and household required

Required for housing benefit claim / joint housing benefit and council tax support claim

Moving out of borough

Moving within the borough

  • Complete change of address form 
  • You will also need to provide: 
  • Tenancy agreement for new home - start date, rent charges (breakdown of rent) or letter from landlord showing these details 

Temporary moves

  • If there is any rent liability at the temporary address: proof of rent 

Change to rent

  • Tenancy renewal agreement start date, gross rent and what is included or 
  • Letter from landlord or 
  • Rent proof document 

Change to payee

  • N/A 

Evidence for changes to people and household

Required for housing benefit claim/joint housing benefit and council tax support claim

Adult joining the household as partner
Claimant in receipt of one of the following welfare benefits; Universal Credit, Income Support 9IS), Jobseeker's Allowance - JSA(IB), Employment & Support Allowance  ESA(IR) or Pension Credits

  • N/A 

Adult joining the household as partner
Claimant not in receipt of one of the following welfare benefits

  • If not working; evidence of current income
  • If working: evidence of all income and payslips covering last 2 months and any other income received. 

Adult joining the household as non-dependant over the age of 18 or 6 or over and not in full time education.

  • If working: evidence of all income and payslips covering last 2 months.
  • If not working and not claiming state benefits: a statement of how meeting day-to-day living expenses 

Child or young person joining the household
Child is someone in non-advanced education for whom you get child benefit and is aged below 20. 
Young person is someone in non-advanced education for whom you get child benefit and is aged below 20 and for whom you do not get child benefit

  • Birth certificate for new baby
  • Child benefit or further statement/evidence to show main residency of child
  • 16s and over - statement they are in non-advanced education or relevant training (e.g. A levels, sixth form)
  • Three children or more, child tax credit statement

Child or young person leaving full-time non-advanced education

  • N/A 

Household member leaving household

  • If claimant has no income, evidence of how they are supporting themselves 

Evidence for changes to income and capital

For housing benefit claim/joint housing benefit and council tax support claim

Start new employment - earnings for claimant/partner

  • Letter or contract of employment from the employer showing salary and hours worked. 

Change to existing employment earnings - claimant/partner

  • Payslips covering last 2 months.  if this is not available letter or contract of employment from the employer showing salary and hours worked. 

End of earnings

  • Termination of employment letter or equivalent evidence 

Change to, or update of, self-employed earnings

  • Complete self-employed form and simple summary from start of business / date of significant change up to the current date of takings and expenditure (not just tax return).  Or give a forecast of estimated income. 
  • Clear separation of any expense relating to both home and work 

Capital, savings and investments

  • If you are of working age with capital/savings more than £6,000 and less than £16,000: last two months' bank statements from all accounts held; savings books must be made up to date.
  • If you re of pension age with capital / savings more than £10,000 and less than £16,000: last two months bank statements from all accounts held; savings books must be made up to date.
  • If you are of pension age and you are in receipt of Pension Guarantee Credit we accept claims with capital over £16,000 and no evidence is required. 

Other income changes

  • Documents from the organisation or person paying the income.  Must be clear what it is, and when it started. 

Change to student income in advanced education (e.g. university)

  • Student Finance document showing amount of grant/loan, broken down into elements.  Also includes term dates and duration of the course. 

Change to non-dependant income

  • If working 16 hours and more; proofs of all current income 
  • If no income: provide a letter saying how they are managing their living expenses. 
  • Students - provide exemption certificate. 

Change to childcare costs

  • Childminder registration/invoice/agreement, period of child care and cost clearly stating the name of the child(ren) care is being provided for
  • Childcare vouchers - letter/award of vouchers
  • Details if full-time or term-time arrangements

Change to Statutory Sick Pay

  • Letter from employer
  • Pay slips for the period of sickness
  • Expected date due to return to work

Change to Statutory Maternity Pay

  • Letter from employer
  • Pay slips for period of maternity
  • Expected date of birth
  • Expected date due to return to work   

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