IS20 - A guide to Income Support

Introduction

What is Income Support?

Income Support is an income-related benefit which provides financial help for certain people who are not currently in the employment field  and whose income, from all sources, is below a minimum level set by Parliament. For each claimant, this level is their individually-assessed applicable amount. [Legislation (3)]

Income Support is an income-related benefit. This means that the amount of Income Support you get will depend on your financial resources such as your earnings and your savings. Your Income Support payment bridges the gap between your current finances and your applicable amount.

Income Support is paid for out of taxation. If you are eligible for Income Support it is your right to claim it.

How to use this guide

• The main Income Support rules briefly explains the main rules of the scheme.
• Who can get Income Support? looks at who is eligible to get Income Support. It shows how different groups are dealt with, exceptions to rules and additional qualifying conditions.
• Making a claim explains how you make your claim, how the money is paid, and how you can appeal against decisions.
• Who you can claim for looks at your family and those for whom you can claim Income Support.
• Your Income Support payment describes the elements which go to make up your Income Support payment.
• Income and capital explains what is counted as income and capital, and how your income and capital affect what Income Support you can get.
• Other social security benefits you may get introduces other social security benefits that you may be able to get whether you are claiming Income Support or not.
• Transitional protection and transitional payments explains how transitional protection and Supplementary Benefit is linked together.
• Help if you live in a care home explains the rules about Income Support and other benefits for people who live in care homes.
• Further information shows you where to get more detailed information on social security and gives some details of the legal basis of Income Support.

Benefit rates

Current benefit rates are not included in the text of this guide, but you can get copies of leaflet Social security benefit rates from social security offices.

Jobcentre Plus

We are now introducing Jobcentre Plus offices across the country in place of Jobcentres and social security offices. If you are of working age there are two different ways of making a claim. 

If you are in an area with Jobcentre Plus offices, your claim details will be taken through the Contact Centre. You will need to call your local claim number. This is an 0845 number. Calls are charged at local call rates based on current tariffs from BT landlines. Calls from mobile phones and cable networks may differ

We will take some basic claim details and arrange to call you back to gather more information to help you find work, if appropriate, and make your claim to benefit. At the end of the call we may arrange a work-focused interview with a personal adviser at your local Jobcentre Plus office. You will be provided with a statement of the information you provide. You will need to check and sign the statement before returning it to Jobcentre Plus. When you make a claim, we will tell you who your personal adviser will be. They are your main contact to help you look for work. Also, when you return your statement to the Jobcentre Plus office it will passed to a financial assessor who will check the statement to make sure that you have provided all the information and evidence required to support your claim before it is passed for processing.

You can get details of the areas covered by Jobcentre Plus offices and the local claim numbers from your local office or on this website or look in the phone book under Jobcentre Plus.

If you are in an area without Jobcentre Plus, you should continue to use:

• your local Jobcentre if you are looking for work or claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance,
• or your local social security office if you are claiming other working age benefits.

Jobcentre Plus aims to help people to find work whenever it will be best for them, as well as to support those who need help from benefits. We believe that often work is the best form of welfare. Jobcentre Plus actively supports that through a range of programmes which can help those who might otherwise claim Income Support. Participation in those programmes is voluntary, although in specific circumstances described in this leaflet people are required to take part in work focused interviews. Jobcentre Plus delivers its services within a clear framework of rights and responsibilities, provides a professional and welcoming environment and treats its customers as individuals, tailoring help to each customer’s particular needs.

To support our customers Jobcentre Plus ensures that customers who remain without work, or who cannot work, are provided with access to all the benefits to which they are entitled swiftly, courteously and accurately, and gives accurate and up-to-date information about likely in-work benefits, tax credits and other entitlements.

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