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How to claim benefits

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

To claim a benefit, you will usually have to fill in a form. Each benefit has its own form. Depending on the benefit, you can:

• get the form from your local benefits office
• download it from the internet
• phone to ask for the form to be sent to you
• get the form from you local health centre or hospital
• make a claim by asking your employer.

In some cases, you might be able to make a claim online or over the phone.

There are information sheets on all the benefits available in our Information and Resources section. In each sheet, we explain how you can make your claim for that particular benefit and where possible, we give you links to the claim form. Make sure you take a copy of the claim form when you have completed it before you send it back.

In most cases, you will have to provide evidence to back up your claim, for example, you will have to give your national insurance number and evidence of your identity as well as your income and savings. If you have to send off original documents, make sure you keep copies and send them recorded delivery to make sure they arrive safely.

The forms might seem very long and complicated. In many cases, it is probably best to try and get help to fill them in from an adviser or social worker. If English is not your first language, or if you have a disability, you can ask the relevant office for the help you need to apply, for example, for an interpreter.

Read our Claiming Benefits Contact Details List

Use our Benefits Checker to see if you are entitled to any benefits

This information has been produced by Citizens Advice

Last updated: 8 December 2010