New Claim

 Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit claim form (618Kb)

Please print out and complete the form - there are guidance notes at the end of the form. Make sure that all the necessary proofs are supplied with it.

You can either post the completed form and supporting documents to the following address:

Great Yarmouth Borough Council
Revenue Services
Trafalgar House
Hall Plain
Great Yarmouth
NR30 2QG

Or bring it to one of our offices:

Trafalgar House, Hall Plain, Great Yarmouth
Gorleston Council Information Centre, within Gorleston Library, Baker Street, Gorleston

Fast Track Service - The easy way to claim.
You can speed up your claim for housing and council tax benefit by using our new Fast Track service.

All you have to do is follow these 3 easy steps...

1  Fully complete your  benefit application form.

2  Make sure you have all the information we require in order for us to process your claim. The checklist on page 19 of the application form will help you.  Or follow this link for a list of all required evidence ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS ACCEPTED AS EVIDENCE

3  Take your completed application together with all the relevant information to the Customer Services Counter located on the ground floor of Trafalgar House.

A member of staff will then verify your claim and check that you have all the information we require.

Once your claim is verified by a member of staff and they have confirmed that you have provided all the required information, it will be sent to the benefit assessment team to be processed within 24 hours.

Help and advice can be obtained from our Customer Service Advisors:

Visiting Officer

If you think you may have difficulty in completing and retuning your application our Visiting Officer may be able to call at your home to assist you.  If you would like more information on this service please contact our Customer Services Department for details: 01493 846291

Our opening hours are: 9.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday

Please ensure you have provided all the evidence required for us to process your claim.

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS ACCEPTED AS EVIDENCE

INCOME

• Evidence of earnings:  Wage Slips (we do not accept hand written wage slips)

• If you are paid weekly, we require your last 5 wage slips

• If you are paid fortnightly, we require your last 3 wage slips

• If you are paid monthly, we require your last 2 wage slips

If you do not get wage slips and have no other evidence of your earnings we can give you a form which you can take to your employer to complete.

Evidence of benefits, allowances, tax credits, pension credits and state pension:  

• Current award letters or notices from the Department for Works and Pension, The Pension Service and the Inland Revenue confirming how much you get.

Evidence of Self Employed Earnings

• We need to see up to date accounts you have kept. We can provide you with a form which you can complete to declare your earnings. We may still require sight of your accounts to confirm the information provided.

Evidence of other income

• Last received annual pension slips from works/private pension provider.

• Letter from court confirming Maintenance award.

• Evidence of income you receive where anyone who pays you board and lodgings.

• Evidence of any payments received from a charity.

• Letters awarding student grants or training allowances.

CAPITAL

We need to see evidence of all capital such as:

• Full Bank Statements for all bank/building society accounts or the bank book for each account.

• Certificates for premium bonds.

• National Savings Certificates, ISAs, Tessas, Stocks, Shares and Unit Trusts.

• We need evidence of interest you receive from interest or dividends you get from investments and savings.

• We also need to see evidence relating to capital in your children's name if over £3000.

PLEASE DO NOT Send Original Bank/Building Society Books or Other Capital Certificates through the post. Please produce them at the Customer Services Counter so a copy can be taken by a Council Officer.