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Your Weekly Income
The money we count as income includes any earnings, pensions and other benefits you get.
If you have a partner sharing your home, we count your joint incomes and savings together. If you are getting Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, you will automatically get the maximum Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit we can pay, less any charges for other people living with you and sharing your home. See the section Household Members for more information.
If you are not getting Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, to find your weekly income for benefit purposes, we add together:
- any salary or wages you and your partner earn (we take off Income Tax, National Insurance contributions and half any private pension contributions first);
plus
- any other income, like pensions, benefits or allowances that you and your partner get. e.g. Pension Credits, National Retirement Pension, Incapacity Benefit, Works Pension, Widow's Pension, Tax Credits, etc.;
plus
- an extra amount for any savings between £6,000 and £16,000, you and your partner have.
I am working, what proof do I need to provide?
If you are working we normally need you to send in wage slips as proof of your earnings. If you are paid weekly we need to see your last five payslips; if you are paid fortnightly we need to see your last 3 payslips; and if you are paid monthly we need to see your last two salary slips.
If you are unable to supply payslips, you should ask your employer to complete a Proof of Earnings form. Alternatively, you can ask your employer to provide a letter showing the same details as the Proof of Earnings form.
Where can I get a Proof of Earnings Form?
If you go to Points of Contact for Benefits Help, you'll find information about where to obtain a Proof of Earnings form.
If you prefer you can download, print and complete the Proof of Earnings Form below.
Downloads
If you are unable to obtain payslips, you can ask your employer to complete this form to show proof of your earnings. (41.7 KB)
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