One Day Promise

What is the One Day Promise?

The One Day Promise is a fast track service offered by the Housing and Council Tax Benefits Team.

The aim of the service is to speed up the time it takes to process a new benefit claim or change in circumstances, so that you get paid quickly and correctly.

To be able to process your claim or change within one working day, we need your help.

What can I do to help you?

We need you to complete a new claim form, gather together all the evidence listed below and then bring everything to us at the Council offices.

Go to the Customer Services Centre and a member of the team will check through all the information.

If your claim is "fully supported" with all the documents and information that we need, we promise to process it within one working day.

The same applies to letting us know of a change in your circumstances, such as a change to your household or income. Come in, tell us about your change and bring us the supporting evidence and we will amend your benefit within one working day.

What supporting information do I need to provide?

You will need to bring in the information listed below and shown in our leaflet.

One Day Promise Leaflet (PDF Document, 0.1 Mb)

Please note, we need to see original documents, photocopies cannot be accepted.

Evidence of identity (for you and your partner, if applicable), such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport, medical card, driving licence, UK residence permit or an EEC identity card.

Evidence of your address, such as a recent gas, electricity bill or a TV licence.

Evidence of your National Insurance number (for you and your partner, if applicable), such as a National Insurance number card, payslip or letter from social security or the Tax office.

Evidence of capital, savings and investments (we also need this for any other adults living in your home), such as all your bank, building society or post office books, full bank statements, certificates for Premium Bonds, National Savings certificates, ISAs, stocks, shares and unit trusts. We need to see evidence of any interest or dividends you get on investments and savings.

The evidence you send must show at least the last two months.

Evidence of earnings (we also need this for any other adults living in your home).
Please provide:

• Your last five payslips if you are paid every week, or
• Your last three payslips if you are paid every two weeks, or
• Your last two payslips if you are paid every month.

If you do not have these payslips, please ask your employer to fill in an Earnings Certificate.

Earnings Certificate (PDF Document, 0.1 Mb)

If you, or your partner, are self employed, we need to see your audited accounts. If these are not available, we need a completed self employed earnings form and your self-employed books, expenditure receipts, invoices and business bank statements. If you are newly self-employed we need an estimate of your future earnings.

Evidence of other income (we also need this for any other adults living in your home), such as pension slips from a previous employer or a letter from the court showing how much maintenance you are getting.

Evidence of benefits, allowances or pensions (we also need this for any other adults living in your home), such as current award letters from social security confirming how much you get.

Evidence of private rent and tenancy, such as your tenancy agreement and rent book (or receipts). If you do not have a tenancy agreement, or if it has expired, a letter from your landlord (or agent) will be acceptable. The letter must provide the name and business address of your landlord (or agent), the date the tenancy started, the amount of rent and any service charges and how often it is due, and whether your rent is up to date.

Evidence of other money paid out, such as letters about student grants or maintenance, agreements or receipts from registered child care providers.

What if I am unable to visit the Council Offices?

We understand that people have different needs. To make our One Day Promise accessible to all, we provide a home visiting service to those residents who are:

• Elderly or infirm
• Disabled or housebound
• New parents with young babies
• Vulnerable, such as people with learning difficulties.

This list is not exhaustive.

To arrange a home visit please call our visiting team on 01530 454551.

If you would like any more information about the One Day Promise service, please contact the Benefits Team.