Send your claim in to us as soon as possible, even if you do not have all the requested documents. This means we can begin processing your application as quickly as possible. You may lose benefit you are entitled to if you delay.

How to apply

Use our online form to apply for Council Tax Support.

For Bournemouth residents:

For Christchurch and Poole residents:

You can recover a partially completed form, however we only keep these for 30 days.

Backdated claims

Backdated claims for working age people

You need to:

• explain why you did not claim earlier
• provide evidence of your income for the period of backdating

These need to be provided within 1 month from when you make the request for backdating.

Backdated claims for people of state pension age

If you are of state pension age, then the maximum backdating period is 3 months. You do not need to explain why you did not claim earlier, but you will need to provide evidence of your income during the backdating period.

Self-employed assessment form

If you’re applying for Council Tax Support and you or your partner are self-employed, we normally need you to provide a current profit and loss account. We cannot calculate your income from receipts and or weekly/monthly income and expenditure records.

If you do not have a profit and loss account, please complete and then submit the online Supplementary self-employed earnings information form.

Bournemouth residents

Christchurch and Poole residents

Complete the online self employed earnings form.

Sending your evidence to us

Evidence we can receive online

We can accept evidence online such as digital photos, scanned images and email documents to support new claims and changes in circumstances.

Evidence such as a certificate of rent, tenancy agreement, wage slips, earnings certificates, bank statements, Department for Works and Pension letters, self-employed accounts, utility bills, birth certificates for children can all be accepted.

Scanned images must be clear and easy to read. Please make sure the original documents have not been tampered with before being scanned, such as Tippex or alterations.

If we have any doubts about the images we receive, we may still ask to see the original documents.

Bournemouth residents

Email your evidence to benefits.bournemouth@bcpcouncil.gov.uk. Please add your name, address, National Insurance number and/or a reference number in the subject line.

Christchurch and Poole residents

Complete the online evidence request form and attach your documents.

Original documents

You must send us the original documents being used as identification and proof of a National Insurance number for either the claimant and/or partner, like a passport or driving licence.

Post them to:

Revenues and Benefits Services
BCP Council Civic Centre
Bourne Avenue
Bournemouth
BH2 6DY

Please contact us if you need any help with applying for Council Tax Support.

If you already receive Council Tax Support and your circumstances change, please let us know.