Income Support

What is Income Support?

Income Support is a means tested benefit that does not depend on National Insurance contributions. It can be paid on its own or to top up other benefits or part-time earnings.

Along with Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit it will usually form part of the basic income of lone parents who are not working.  The introduction of Child Tax Credit means that it no longer includes amounts for children.

The amount of Income Support paid depends on your income, savings and issues such as whether or not you have an illness or disability. Income Support aims to bring a person’s income up to a minimum level — the least amount the law says you need to live on.

You can claim Income Support if:

• You are a lone parent and have a child who is under the age of 16; or
• You have a child under 19, in full time education, and you get Incapacity Benefit; or
• You are pregnant and you cannot work; or
• You are pregnant and your baby is due within 11 weeks; and
• You have less coming in each week than the law says you need to live on; and
• You do not have savings of more than £8,000; and
• You regularly work less than 16 hours per week.

If you are a lone parent in full-time education you can still claim IS – your student income will count towards this – we recommend that you seek advice on this. Our Advice Workers can help work out what you will be entitled to.

How Your Income Support Is Calculated:

The amount of Income Support you receive depends on your personal circumstances. First of all your applicable amount will be calculated - this is the least amount the law says you need to live on. It will include:

A “Personal Allowance” - a fixed amount for you as a lone parent.

Any “Premiums” that you may be entitled to because of your circumstances.

Check with Gingerbread’s Advice Service to see which premiums you are entitled to or if you are currently getting the right premiums.

Extra money will be added if:

• You are a carer
• You have a disability
• You have a severe disability
• You have been bereaved
• You are over pensionable age
• Housing costs if you have a mortgage and have mortgage interest to pay

Your personal allowance, premiums and any housing costs are then added together to find your applicable amount – the least you should have coming in.

This is then compared with your weekly income.  Your income is calculated by looking at: -

• The amount you have coming in from some other benefits
• The amount of money you get in wages for working 16 hours or less per week
• Any maintenance you receive
• Whether or not you have savings of between £3,000 and £8,000 as the amount of Income Support you can get will be reduced because of this.

Other Benefits:

If you are entitled to Income Support you may receive some other benefits automatically, these include:

• Housing Benefit – for some of your housing costs
• Free prescriptions
• Help with dental treatment
• Free school meals
• Access to Social Fund payments

How to claim:

You can get a form from your local Social Security office, Jobs and Benefits office or from Gingerbread’s Advice Service.

For further information:

You can get free, impartial and confidential advice on Income Support from Gingerbread NI’s Freephone Advice Helpline we can advise you on the application process, how to qualify, fill in any forms and advise you of all other relevant benefits and work out exactly what your full income will be.

A PDF version of this information is also available.  Download it today by clicking on the image to the left.

The Advice is FREE; So is the call!

Alternatively, you are welcome to drop into our centres in Belfast and Derry to see us. Our addresses for the drop in service together with times of operation are as follows:

If we are unable to see you then we will arrange a mutually convenient time for you to return for an appointment.

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