Summary

In order to assess a claim for Housing and Council Tax Benefit, you will need to provide information concerning income, savings and all household family members.

 

Information Required (what we need to know)

Proof of all income

This is the money that you, and any dependent family, have coming into your household. It includes wages, salary, pensions or state benefits and any other income received. Some items of income are partially or totally ignored although you must still tell us about them.

 

Proof of all savings

For people aged under 60

This is the total of your (and any partner's) savings and investments. If the total exceeds £16,000 you will not be able to claim Housing or Council Tax Benefit. If the total is less than £6,000 it will not affect your Benefit but you must still tell us about it. For savings between £6,000 and £16,000 an income of £1 for every £250 of savings is added to your other income total, but actual interest paid on savings is ignored.

For People aged over 60

This is the total of your (and any partner's) savings and investments. If the total exceeds £16,000 you will not be able to claim Housing or Council Tax Benefit. If the total is less than £6,000 it will not affect your benefit but you must still tell us about it. For savings between £6,000 and £16,000 an income of £1 for every £500 of savings is added to your other income total, but actual interest paid on savings is ignored.
You will be entitled to benefit if you are in receipt of Guarantee Credit, even if your savings and investments exceed £16,000. You may also be entitled to benefit if you are in receipt of savings credit. This figure will be used as income.

 

Details of household family members

The size of your household and the age and income of everyone who lives with you can affect your benefit entitlement. If you have someone living with you who is not dependent upon you, this may reduce your benefit entitlement as it is reasonable to expect such a person to contribute to household expenses.

 

Documents required

We will need to see original documents to prove your income and savings and at least two separate documents to prove your identity and national insurance number. Photocopies cannot be accepted unless we have seen the original documents.
Such documents may include passport, driving licence, birth certificate, marriage certificate, full bank statements showing name and address of account holder and dated with 4 weeks of the date of your benefit claim, a utility bill from a recent period. All relevant documents must show your current address.