Benefits evidence and document upload

When you fill in a benefits form we will tell you what supporting evidence we need. We will usually need some original documents. In some situations, we will ask you to fill in a form giving extra information.

Documents

To upload Benefits evidence, attach photos or scanned images of original documents use the upload Benefits evidence form below. 

Upload Benefits evidence

We accept the following file types:

  • pdf, doc, docx
  • jpeg, jpg, jpe 
  • bmp, gif, tiff, tif, png

If you can’t upload a document you can bring the original (not a photocopy) to one of our libraries. We will scan it and give it back to you. Please check your local library for the opening times - contact your local library. You can post documents to us:

Benefits Section
Cheshire East Council
PO Box 622
Crewe
CW1 9JH

For information on centre opening times, locations and contact details, see our contact page. 

To see how your benefit has been calculated you can register for an account now if you haven’t done so already.

If you require further information

Contact us about benefits 

Online evidence and information forms

You can tell us about some types of evidence and information using our online forms.

Self-employed income form -  we need this form from all self employed people

Self-employed taxi drivers form –all self-employed taxi drivers need to fill in this form as well as the self employed form

Childminder income form - we need this form from all childminders

Child care costs form – use this form if you don’t currently have any evidence of what you pay for childcare. You will still need to give us receipts as soon as you can get them from your childminder.

Landlord confirmation of rent form – ask your landlord or the agent to fill in this form if you don’t have any evidence of what you pay in rent

Specified Accommodation form -  To apply for Specified Accommodation status applications can only be made by the landlord or property owner. 

Types of evidence we accept

We accept the following types of evidence.

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Identity

Any one of the following:

  • current passport - include pages with the photographs, visa/ permit information or UK Visa and Immigration stamps 
  • current driving licence
  • National Insurance number
  • birth certificate
  • marriage certificate
  • UK residency permit
  • identity card
  • Home Office papers
  • a B79 form for notice you have been released from prison
  • a letter from a solicitor, social worker, probation officer, doctor, or HM Revenue and Customs
  • a certificate of employment in HM forces or the Merchant Navy

Earned income

Any of the following that are relevant:

  • pay slips - we’ll need your last 2 slips if you get paid monthly, the last 5 if you get paid weekly, or the last 3 if you get paid fortnightly
  • a certificate of earnings form (PDF, 93KB) filled in by your employer
  • self employed form and business accounts
  • self employed taxi driver form
  • If you are in receipt of Universal Credit and working you don't need to provide your pay slips as we use the amount of earnings used in your Universal Credit award.

Other income

Any of the following that are relevant:

  • pension advice slips
  • evidence of rent received such as a rent book or bank account or tenancy agreement
  • court order for adult maintenance
  • bank statements from the last 2 months
  • letters about student grants or loans showing a full breakdown of how the grant or loan is made up

Capital and savings

Any of the following that are relevant:

  • 2 months consecutive bank statements for all bank, building society and post office accounts, or original and up-to-date building society books -  even if the account is empty or overdrawn
  • certificates for premium bonds, National Savings, ISAs, stocks, shares and unit trusts
  • details of any second property – evidence of the mortgage outstanding, mortgage payments, the deeds and the address of the property

Residency

  • one document showing your address, such as a bank statement, TV licence or a recent utility bill (not council tax or a mobile phone bill)
  • If you are a national from the EU, EEA or a Swiss citizen your EU Settlement Scheme status in the UK or your Indefinite Leave to Enter and Remain status in the UK
  • If you are a national from elsewhere in the world other than the EU, EEA  and Switzerland your visa/ permit information or UK Visa and Immigration stamps 

Tenancy

Any one of the following:

  • tenancy agreement (all pages)
  • rent book or rent receipts
  • a letter from your landlord stating the date the tenancy started, the rent charged and the services included in the rent
  • fair rent registration document

If you don’t have any of these, you can ask your landlord to fill in our confirmation of rent form.

Benefits

Any of the following that are relevant:

  • Screen shots of you Universal Credit payments taken from your online account
  • any welfare benefit award notices dated within the last 3 months - these could include Child Benefit, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payments, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance (income based and contribution based), Pension Credit, Industrial Disabilities Benefit, Carers Allowance, Severe Disability Allowance, Maternity,Allowance, Employment Support Allowance - this list is not exhaustive
  • your latest Working Tax Credits and Child Tax Credit award letters or screen shots taken of an online notification
  • war pensions award letters
  • registered blind certificate

Payments

Any of the following that are relevant:

  • Student finance information - letters about a student loan and grants
  • maintenance agreements
  • receipts / invoices from child care providers /childminders or a completed childcare costs form

Page last reviewed: 08 March 2024