Income Support
1. Overview
You may be able to get Income Support if you meet all the specific conditions including:
- you have no income or a low income
- you’re working less than 16 hours a week
- you haven’t signed on as unemployed
The actual amount you get depends on your circumstances, but if you qualify and have no income you’ll get at least £56.80 a week.
You can claim Child Tax Credit if you claim Income Support and have children.
Use a benefits calculator to work out what money you can get if you're on a low income.
2. What you'll get
You get a basic payment (a ‘personal allowance’) and extra payments (premiums) on top of this. Your income and any savings (over £5,999) can affect how much you get.
Personal allowance
| Status | Age | Weekly payment |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 16 to 24 | £57.35 |
| Single | 25 or over | £72.40 |
| Lone parent | 16 to 17 | £ 57.35 |
| Lone parent | 18 or over | £72.40 |
| Couples | Both under 18 | £56.80 |
| Couples | One under 18, the other 18 to 24 | £56.80 |
| Couples | One under 18, the other 25 or over | £71.70 |
| Couples | Both 18 or over | £112.55 |
Premiums
You can get between £15.55 and £122.20 extra depending on your circumstances - eg if you’re a pensioner, disabled or a lone parent with a disabled child.
Use a benefits calculator to work out how much you can get.
How you’re paid
Payments are usually made every 2 weeks.
All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account, eg a bank account.
The benefit cap limits the amount of benefit that most people aged 16 to 64 can get. Some individual benefits aren't affected, but it may affect the total amount of benefit you get.
3. Eligibility
To qualify for Income Support you must be all of the following:
- between 16 and Pension Credit qualifying age
- pregnant, or a carer, or a lone parent with a child under 5 or, in some cases, unable to work because you’re sick or disabled
- you have no income or a low income
- working less than 16 hours a week (and your partner works no more than 24 hours a week)
- living in England, Scotland and Wales - there are different rules for Northern Ireland
You don’t need a permanent address, eg you can still claim if you sleep rough or live in a hostel or care home.
You might still qualify if you do unpaid volunteer work or go on parental or paternity leave. Also, you qualify if you’re age 19 or younger, in full-time secondary education (including A levels) and one of the following:
- a parent
- not living with a parent or someone acting as a parent
- a refugee learning English
You can also qualify up until the age of 21 if you’re one of the above, are orphaned or estranged from your parents and enrolled in education.
Use a benefits calculator to check your eligibility.
When you won’t qualify
You won’t usually qualify if you:
- have savings above £16,000
- need permission to enter the UK
- get Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
- are a young person being looked after by a local authority
4. How to claim
You can apply for Income Support:
- by phone
- by post - send a claim form to your local Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus
Telephone: 0800 055 6688
Textphone: 0800 023 4888
Welsh language: 0800 012 1888
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges
What you need to know
You can claim Income Support for yourself and your partner, if they haven’t already made a claim.
You need to provide details about your income, the income of any partner, where you live and who lives with you.
Tell JobCentre Plus about any change in your circumstances such as address, household makeup, income or savings.
Appeal a decision
You can appeal the decision about your Income Support if you're unhappy with it.