Evidence to support your Universal Credit claim

How to prove your identity for Universal Credit

If you can’t prove your identity online, you'll be asked to bring one piece of primary evidence and two pieces of secondary evidence to your first evidence appointment. The appointment will be in your local Jobs and Benefits office. Here is a list of what evidence you can bring.

Primary evidence for Universal Credit claim

You need to provide one of the following:

• a passport
• a full or provisional UK photo driving licence
• a full or provisional Ukraine photo driving licence
• any national identity card, except those issued under the UK ID Card scheme
• a residence permit
• a permanent residence card
• an eVisa online record of immigration status
• ARC (Application Registration Card) and Home Office Decision Grant letter-one without the other cannot be accepted
• travel document showing you are free from immigration control, are allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK, have the right of abode in the UK or have no time limit on your stay in the UK
• Citizen card
• Young Scot card showing Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) hologram
• an Immigration Status Document issued by the Home Office or the United Kingdom Border Agency
• a certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen, which  shows you are entitled to take up employment in the UK
• Northern Ireland Electoral ID card
• bank card which must show your name, sort code and account number, or be shown along with a recent statement which gives these details

Secondary evidence for Universal Credit claim

You need to provide two of the following:

• any of the documents from the list of primary evidence (but not one you are using as primary evidence)
• certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen
• original birth certificate/ adoption certificate
• Young Scot card showing a PASS hologram
• Citizen Card
• building society passbook
• NIHE (Northern Ireland Housing Executive) rent card
• Land and Property Services rates documents
• life assurance or insurance policies
• mortgage repayment policies
• recently paid utility bills in your name (less than six months old)
• original marriage certificate
• original civil partnership certificate
• divorce or annulment papers
• dissolution of civil partnership papers
• letter from employer or contract of employment
• certificate or contract of employment in HM Majesty’s forces, the Merchant Navy, or under the Crown
• current police registration certificate
• current firearms certificate
• current or recent wage or pension slip that includes your name and          National Insurance number
• a Deed Poll certificate
• statutory declaration of change of name
• current bank or building society statements (six months old or less) - if your bank card has been used as primary evidence then any bank statements must be for a different account
• current or open savings account book
• personal cheque book
• bank card supported by a bank statement if your sort code and account number are not on the card (unless you used this as primary evidence)
• current charge card
• Trade Union membership card
• travel pass with photograph
• apprenticeship indentures
• vehicle registration or car insurance documents
• expired passport
• discharge from prison form B79
• bail sheet
• correspondence from HMRC
• tenancy agreement for current property
• invoices from your self-employment
• letter from accountant giving information which helps to show your identity
• letter from solicitor giving information which helps to show your identity
• current/ recent instrument of Court appointment – for example Probate or court registered Power of Attorney
• stock transfer certificate
• certificate of incorporation
• memorandum of association
• NHS medical card
• student identity  card
• letter from educational institution
• student loan documents
• full driving licence not from the UK

This list is not exhaustive.

Proving your childcare costs for Universal Credit 

To get help with childcare costs, you must provide evidence of the childcare provided and the payments made.

You will need to provide one of the following documents as evidence to confirm the details of your childcare provider:

• a childcare contract
• an invoice from your childcare provider
• a letter from your childcare provider

The evidence provided must not have been altered in any way and must include:

• your childcare provider’s full name, address and contact number
• the childcare provider’s childcare Registration Number
• address where the child is being cared for
• the full cost of the childcare
• type of childcare for example after school, or nursery
• name(s) of the child(ren) being cared for
• if the contract varies – for example during school holidays

If you use more than one childcare provider, you must provide details for each one. If you are unable to upload this information to your online account or you need help or further information contact your Jobs and Benefits offices

You will also need to provide information on your childcare payments every month. 

Proving your housing costs for Universal Credit

You will need to supply evidence of your housing costs when you claim Universal Credit. You will need to provide your rental or tenancy agreement document showing how much rent you pay. If you do not have one of these, ask your landlord for a letter giving the following details:

• your name as tenant and landlord’s name, address, contact details
• address of the property rented
• date the tenancy began and how long the term is for
• the amount of rent -if the rent includes an amount for rates, rent arrears, service charges or utilities, these need to be shown separately
• how often your payments are due for example weekly/ monthly
• deposit amounts, if this applies
• how many bedrooms are in the property
• signatures of all tenants and the landlord or agent, in all the correct places on the document

You will also need to provide evidence of your address. This can be:

• a utility bill paid within the last three months
• a rates bill
• your current driving licence (as long as this has not already been used as photographic ID)
• your bank, building society or credit union statement dated within the last three months
• an HMRC self-assessment letter or tax demand dated within the current financial year

You will be asked to upload this evidence onto your Universal Credit account. If you need help to do this, contact your local Jobs and Benefits offices

Other evidence you'll need to provide for Universal Credit

You will also need to provide documents showing evidence of your income, savings and other information you have provided to make your claim to Universal Credit.  

For more information see How you make a claim for Universal Credit