IS20 - A guide to Income Support

Who can get Income Support?

Exceptions to the remunerative work rule

When you may be able to get Income Support
The following situations are not counted as remunerative work if:

• you, or your partner, have a mental or physical disability which means that you (or your partner) are only able to earn 75% or less of what a person without that disability would be expected to earn
• or you, or your partner, have a mental or physical disability which means that you (or your partner) are only able to work 75% or less of the hours a person without that disability would be expected to work
• or you, or your partner, work at home as a childminder
• or you, or your partner, work as a volunteer for expenses only
• or you, or your partner, are getting a training allowance for a government sponsored scheme such as Training for Work
• or you, or your partner, are regularly and substantially engaged in caring for someone who gets, or who has claimed, Attendance Allowance (AA), Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the highest or middle rate of care component, or you, or your partner, get Carer’s Allowance
• or you are working and you live in a care home because you need care
• or you are engaged in one of the following occupations:
  • a local authority councillor
  • a part-time fire-fighter
  • a member of the Territorial Army or the Reserve Forces
  • a member of the crew of a lifeboat, or someone manning or launching a lifeboat
  • an auxiliary coastguard involved in coast rescue services
  • a foster parent.

Job Grant

If you leave Income Support to go into remunerative work you may be able to get a Job Grant. The Government introduced Job Grant to help jobseekers with the transition from benefit to work.

Job Grant is a tax free payment payable if you are taking up full time work of at least 16 hours per week. The amount of Job Grant you get will be either £100 or £250, depending on your circumstances.

A Job Grant may be payable if your partner is going into work of at least 24 hours per week and as a result your claim to benefit ends.

If you:

• expect that work to last 5 weeks or more; and
• have been getting Income Support, JSA, Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance (or a combination of these benefits) for at least 26 weeks immediately before moving into full time work

you may get a Job Grant – you do not need to claim.

If you start work you must tell your Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office straightaway.

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