Claiming Housing Benefit in the Selby area

It is important that we can be sure of your identity when you make a claim.  We may need to ask you about your background and look at the official documents you have to support the information you give us.

We will ask for two forms of identification from you and you need to make sure that you can provide these when you make your claim. Forms of identification include:

• original birth certificate
• driving licence
• divorce or annulment papers
• UK residence permit
• life assurance policy
• letter from a solicitor, doctor, social worker or probation office, or the Inland Revenue
• wage slips from the current employer
• Home Office acknowledgement letter
• passport
• marriage certificate
• gas, electric or water bill
• HM Forces certificate of employment
• EC or EBA national identity card
• NHS medical card
• DWP benefit entitlement letter
• bank statement (dated within the last four weeks)
• Universal Credit award letter

We cannot pay benefit without a National Insurance number for you and your partner. If you or your partner do not have a National Insurance Number, or cannot tell us what it is, please ask us for help. We can give you advice on how you can find your National Insurance Number.

If you are employed you must provide five wage slips in a row if you are paid weekly; three wage slips in a row if paid fortnightly, or two wage slips in a row if paid monthly. Alternatively, you can provide a letter from your employer on official company paper. Your proof must include:

Your proof must include:

• the name and address of your employer
• the number of hours worked and the period covered
• your income before deductions in the year so far
• your income before deductions for the pay period
• the income tax deducted
• National Insurance contributions deducted
• your pay before and after deductions, and any other deductions for a five-week period
• occupational pension or personal pension payments
• how you are paid, for example, cheque, cash or into a bank account

If you receive Universal Credit, we may need to see your award letters.

If you or your partner receive any other benefit, we wll need to see proof of the amount you receive from the DWP, such as an award letter, or bank statement showing payments.

If you or your partner are self-employed, you must send us your most recent accounts. If you cannot provide these or have only recently become self-employed, please contact us.

Tenancy agreement or rent book (or rent account along with a letter from your landlord)

This proof must include:

• date the agreement started
• amount you pay
• how long the tenancy will last
• how often you pay the rent
• the name and business address of your landlord and of the managing agent, if applicable
• what is included in the rent, such as meals, gas, electricity
• details of rent already paid and the date of payment