Income support

Income Support (IS) is a weekly benefit for people on a low income who do not have to 'sign on' for work, such as carers and lone parents of children under five years old.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on incapacity grounds for new claimants from 27 October 2008.

Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on incapacity grounds are being phased out and most existing claimants will be re-assessed for ESA. Find out about changes to incapacity benefits and the reassessment process using the link on the right.

Incapacity Benefit and Income Support are being phased out and most existing claimants will be re-assessed for ESA.

Income Support can be paid on top of other money you have coming in (up to certain limits). The amount you get depends on things like how much money you have coming in, your age, health, disability and savings.

You can claim Income Support if all of the following statements are true:

• you are aged at least 16 and are under pension age (State Pension age for men is currently 65; State Pension age for women is gradually rising from 60 to 65; the upper age limit for claiming Income Support is also gradually increasing)
• you do not work or work an average of less than 16 hours a week and your partner (if you have one) does not work or works for less than 24 hours a week.
• your savings are £16,000 or less.
  

Note to parents

If you are a parent and claiming Income Support, you must also make a separate claim for Child Tax Credit. Income Support only includes money for adults.

You do not have to claim Child Tax Credit if you are already on Income Support and still get extra money for your children as part of this payment.

How to claim

Contact Jobcentre Plus for a claim form and return it within one month.

More information

Contact Greenwich Welfare Rights Service for more advice.