Income Support
Income Support is a means tested benefit that tops up other benefits or low incomes - it does not depend on National Insurance contributions. 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 – not everyone will have transferred to Child Tax Credit yet, seek advice if you are unsure about this.
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 16; or
• In some cases if 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 than the law says you need to live on; and
• You do not have savings of more than £16,000; and
• You regularly work less than 16 hours per week.
From November 2008 lone parents with a youngest child aged 12 or over will no longer be entitled to Income Support solely on the grounds of being a lone parent. All new claimants will fall under these new rules from November. Please take advice on this if it will affect you in the near future. Gingerbread can advise you of all the options available to you. These changes will not apply if:
• You are incapable of work and get Incapacity Benefit or Employment Support Allowance.
• You get Carers Allowance
• You have a foster child living with you
• You have a child who gets Middle or High Rate Care of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
If you have an existing claim you will fall under these rules from your first Work Focused Interview after November.
If you are a lone parent in full-time education you can still claim Income Support – your student income will count towards what you get – we recommend that you seek advice on this. An Advice Worker can help work out what you will be entitled to.
How your Income Support is worked out:
The amount of Income Support you receive depends on your personal circumstances. First 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
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 £6,000 and £16,000, as the amount of Income Support you can get will be reduced because of this.
Housing costs - if you have a mortgage and have mortgage interest to pay you may be able to get help with this when you are getting Income Support.
You cannot get help with any mortgage taken out after 2 October 1995 for the first 39 weeks of a claim - this rule can cause a lone parent and his/her family major hardship and can result in losing their home. You should contact
your mortgage provider and ask if you can reduce or suspend your repayments for this period. There are other circumstances where help will be given after eight weeks if for example you are in receipt of Carers Allowance.
Loans taken out before 2 October 1995 will get no help for the first 8 weeks of a claim, then 50% for the next 18 weeks and then full housing costs after 26 weeks. The interest rate is a ‘standard rate’ set by the Social Security
Agency so if your interest repayment is higher than this you must meet the shortfall.
Work Focused Interviews
When you make a claim for Income Support you must attend a work focused interview (WFI) – you have to attend unless you can show good cause as to why should not. You will have to attend another WFI after six months, then after one year the interviews will take place on an annual basis until your youngest child reaches the age of fourteen when the WFI will take place every thirteen weeks.
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 and eye care
• Free school meals
• Access to Social Fund payments including grants and loans
How to cliam:
You can get a form from your local Social Security office, Jobs and Benefits office or from Gingerbread’s Advice Service.
You can get a form from your local Social Security office or Jobs and Benefits office.
If you need any more information or advice please contact us:
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Freephone Advice Helpline - 0808 808 8090
Website – www.gingerbreadni.org
Email – advice@gingerbreadni.org |
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