Benefits - how to make a claim
If you live within Chiltern District Council, you can start your claim by calling (01494) 732077.
You should make your claim straight away, as this will normally determine the date from which your benefits will start.
To receive an estimate on whether you may be entitled to Housing and / or Council Tax Reduction, please click on this text.
TO CLAIM, PLEASE RING:
01494 - 732077
This service is available Monday to Friday.
Lines are open 8:30am to 5:30pm (5:00pm on a Friday)
When you call you will be asked for a few simple details, i.e. name, address, date of birth, of you and of your partner.
We will then arrange a suitable time to call you back and take all the other details needed for your claim.
We will complete the claim form for you over the telephone. If you are not on the telephone you can ask a friend to make the initial call for you. When we call you back, we will need to ask for the following information:
• Full names of everyone in your household, including children or any other adults living with you
• National Insurance Numbers for yourself and your partner
• Full details of any money you have coming in. You must tell us about any income you or your partner get
• Information about any savings or investments you or your partner have
• If you are claiming Housing Benefit, details about your tenancy, the rent you pay and your landlord's name and address.
It will help us deal with your claim quickly and efficiently, if you have all these details to hand when we call you back.
Once we have completed your claim form, we will make an appointment for you to visit the Council Offices, to check the information you have given us and to sign the form. At the appointment you will be asked to produce:
• Two forms of identification, for example; birth certificate, passport or driver's licence
• Evidence of your National Insurance number, for example; National Insurance number card, payslips or letters from Social Security or the Tax Office
• Evidence that you are resident in the property, for example; a gas / electricity bill or official letter addressed to you
• Proof of your capital and savings, for example; building society books, bank statements or share certificates. These must cover at least the last two months
• Proof of your income, for example; your benefit / pension book or award letter
• If you are employed your most recent two monthly or five weekly payslips
• If you are self employed, we will require your most recent set of accounts, audited if possible
• Proof of your rent, for example; tenancy agreement or rent book
These documents must be original, we cannot accept photocopies, but we will not retain any of these original documents.
We will be able to deal with your claim quickly if you have all these documents ready when you attend your appointment.
