Income Support

Income Support is an income-related means-tested benefit in the United Kingdom for people who are on a low income. Claimants of Income Support may be entitled to certain other benefits, for example, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and help with health costs. A person with savings over £16,000 cannot get Income Support and savings over £6,000 affect how much Income Support can be received. The claimant must be between 16-59, inclusive, must work less than 16 hours a week, and must have a reason why they are not actively seeking work (on grounds of illness, disability, caring for children, or someone who is ill).

Studying

If the claimant is at school or in higher education they may be able to get Income Support if they are:

• Looking after their own child
• Have a partner who is a student
• A disabled student
• Have been unable to work for over 28 weeks
• An orphan and nobody is looking after them

• Not living with their parents or being supported by them
• Separated from their parents for reasons that cannot be avoided and nobody is looking after you in their place.

If the claimant is aged 18 to 24 and is attending an unwaged Work Based Learning Programme (England) or Skillseekers (Scotland) course, they may be able to get Income Support.

If the claimant is aged 16 or 17 they may only get Income Support if they fall into one of the categories above.

Sickness

Claimants may be entitled to Income Support if they are unable to work due to sickness and have no or reduced entitlement to Incapacity Benefit. Normally a claim for both benefits is made and the amount of Incapacity Benefit due is calculated according to the claimant's past National Insurance Contributions. If too few contributions have been made for the full rates of Incapacity Benefit to be paid then Income Support may be paid to top-up the amount the claimant receives to Income Support rates.

Amount

Weekly Personal allowances for single people, as of April 2007:	Amount
aged 16-17	£35.65
or depending on their circumstances	£46.85
aged 18-24	£46.85
aged 25 or over	£59.15

The rates for couples can be found via the external link below.

Mortgages

For home-owners with a mortgage Income Support can, depending on various qualifying conditions, help pay towards mortgage interest costs. For recent mortgages there can be a 40 week waiting period.

The effect of Working Tax Credit on Income Support

Working Tax Credit,WTC, is taken into account when Income Support is calculated. It is important for claimants to report changes of circumstances to Working Tax Credits, Inland Revenue, before making a claim for Income Support, this will prevent possible over-payments of WTC.

Over 60

Customers reaching the age of 60, or with an older partner who is 60 before them, can apply for Pension Credit, to replace their Income Support payments. They should contact The Pension Service from four months before their or their partners 60th birthday.

Appeal

A refusal to grant Income Support may be appealed to the Social Security Appeal Tribunal.

Employment Support Allowance - ESA

ESA will replace Incapacity Benefit for new claimants in October 2008. Income support will then not be paid to new claimants applying because of ill health.

External links

• Jobcentre Plus - Income Support