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Income Support
Income Support is a weekly benefit, which can be paid to people who have no or very little income. Unlike it’s partner, Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support can be paid to those people who do not have to be ‘actively seeking work’, such as single parents, carers, the bereaved, and sick or disabled people.
When applying for Income Support, your levels of income (if any) and any savings you may have will be taken into consideration. This is because Income Support is ‘means-tested’, which is where the amount of benefit that you receive is affected by your own financial circumstances.
If you are living with your partner and you both qualify for Income Support, then you can make a joint claim.
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Do I qualify?
You will qualify for Income Support if:
- You are aged 16 or over, but under the age of 60 (if you are aged 60 or over, you should be entitled to claim the Pension Credit instead), and
- You are not counted as in full-time paid work (which means that you must not work for 16 hours or more each week. If you have a partner in work, you may still qualify providing that he or she does not work for more than 24 hours each week), and
- Your savings and other capital (excluding the value of your home) are worth less than £8,000, and
- You are not receiving Job Seeker’s Allowance (either individually or as a joint claim couple), and your partner is not getting Pension Credit.
In addition to the above rules, certain groups of people may be entitled to a higher level of benefit to help them meet their extra day-to-day living expenses. You will qualify for a higher amount if you fall into one or more of the following categories and satisfy the qualifying rules:
- People with caring responsibilities – to check your eligibility, please click here
- People who are ill or disabled – to check your eligibility, please click here
- People who are bereaved – to check your eligibility, please click here
- People who have children or are expecting – to check your eligibility, please click here
- Students and young people on training courses – to check your eligibility, please click here
How much will I receive?
The amount of Income Support that you can expect to receive will depend on your individual circumstances. However, the following amounts can be used as a guide
Single people can expect to receive:
£34.60 a week................................................for single people aged 16 –17 years old
£45.50 a week..for single people aged 18 – 24 (including some 16 –17 year olds)
£57.45 a week.............................................................for single people aged 25 or over
Couples can expect to receive:
A maximum of £68.65 a week……………….......if both people are aged under 18
A maximum of £90.10 a week……………….....if both people are aged 18 or over
In addition to the above amounts, certain groups of people may be entitled to claim an additional amount to help with the extra costs of their living expenses. They are:
Families can claim an extra……………………………………....................£16.25 a week
Single parent families can claim an extra…………………………............£16.25 a week
If you have a disabled child, you can claim an extra………………..........£45.08 a week
If you are a carer, you are entitled to claim an extra………………...........£26.35 a week
If you are single and disabled, you can claim an extra…………….........£24.50 a week
If you are a couple and disabled, you can claim an extra………….........£34.95 a week
If you are single and severely disabled, you can claim an extra…….....£46.75 a week
If you are a couple and severely disabled, you can claim an extra….....£93.50 a week
If you are single and you have a small income, then the first £5.00 of your income is ignored when calculating your Income Support entitlement. If you live as a couple and you have a small income, then the first £10.00 of your income is ignored.
How do I claim?
You will need to complete the Income Support claim form (A1) in order to make your claim.
You can obtain the Income Support claim form (A1) either by contacting your nearest Jobcentre Plus Office. Alternatively, you can download the form from the Department for Work and Pensions website by logging on to www.dwp.gov.uk, or by clicking your mouse on the following link:
Please click here to download the Income Support claim pack (A1)
Is there anything else I should know?
Calculating your entitlement to Income Support can be quite complicated, so make sure to take appropriate advice. Your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau will help you to calculate how much (if anything) you can expect to receive.
The Income Support claim form (A1) includes a section for claiming Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. To find out more information about Housing Benefit, please click here – To find out more information about Council Tax Benefit, please click here.
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