Your council will usually ask for proof of identity, such as a passport, photo driving licence, birth certificate or immigration document. You may also need to provide your National Insurance number and evidence of your address, income and rent, although the exact requirements vary between councils. If you do not have standard identity documents, contact your council’s Housing Benefit team, as it may be able to carry out alternative checks or explain what other evidence it can accept. Check your local council’s website or GOV.UK for the current application guidance.