 |
What is it?
Income support is a benefit paid to people aged under 60 with a low income. You may be able to get Income Support if you are a lone parent, sick or disabled or if you are caring for someone who is sick or elderly. Income Support is not paid to unemployed people who have to be available for work and actively seeking work, who may instead be able to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).
There are 2 types of JSA: contribution-based and income-based.
Contribution-based JSA is paid for up to 6 months, but only if you paid enough National Insurance contributions when you were working. You can get it even if your partner works or if you have savings. The calculator can not work out if you are entitled to contribution-based JSA.
Income-based JSA is payable if you have not paid enough National Insurance contributions or when your contribution-based JSA stops. It can also top-up contribution-based JSA. It can be paid for as long as you keep meeting the rules for it.
If you receive Income Support or JSA (income-based) you may be able to get help with the cost of your mortgage and other home loans. However, depending on the date your loan was taken out you will normally not get help for the first 8 or 39 weeks of your claim –
for more information see
help with housing costs.
Can I get it?
If you go through the calculator we will work out whether you are entitled to Income Support or JSA (income-based) and how much you might be able to claim. The calculator can not work out if you are entitled to contribution-based JSA. If you qualify for help with housing costs we include the full amount of any help that you are entitled to.
If you have children and claimed Income Support or JSA after April 2004 additional amounts for children are paid through Child Tax Credit.
The calculator works out your entitlement on this ‘adult only’ basis.
More information is available on Income Support and children.
How do I claim?
Income Support and JSA are administered by JobCentre Plus. To claim call 0800 055 6688 (8am - 6pm Monday to Friday).
A textphone service is available on 0800 023 4888.
Alternatively you can claim online using the Department for Work and Pension's eclaims service.
|
|
|