Benefits - Income Support
What is it?
Income Support is a weekly paid benefit to people on a low
income to help with day to day living costs. It is usually paid to
people who are between 18 – state pension age. If you are at or
over the state pension age then you need to claim pension credit
instead.
If you are 16 or 17 then you may get Income Support if you
are:
- Pregnant or have a child.
- On certain kinds of training courses.
- Disabled.
It is a means tested benefit and will take into account any
other money you have. In addition you will not get it just because
you are on a low income – your weekly income needs to be below a
certain level.
Who is eligible?
To qualify for Income Support certain criteria has to be
met:
- You must be over 16 and under state pension age
- Have a low income
- Work less than 16 hours a week
- Not in full-time education, but there are some exceptions:
- A lone parent
- You do not live with a parent or someone acting as a
parent
- At serious risk of violence or abuse
- A refugee learning English
- Not be on strike
- Do not get Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support
Allowance
- Do not have savings of over £16,000
- Live in Great Britain
You may get Income support if you are:
- A lone parent
- On parental leave
- A carer
- A refugee learning English and arrived in the UK over a year
ago.
How much will I get?
The amount of Income Support received depends on:
- Annual income & savings
- Age
- Whether you have Children
- Whether anyone in the family has a disability
- If someone is a carer
- If you have certain eligible housing costs
How do I apply?
A claim pack can pack can be obtained from:
If you require any more information about Income Support then
please contact the job centre plus on 0800 055 6688. If you find it
hard to speak or hear clearly a textphone is available on 0800 023
4888. Lines are open from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday. OR
click on link to http://www.direct.gov.uk/ or
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/.