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Money

Income Support

Income Support can give extra money to help people on a low income if they can't be available for full-time work and don't have enough money to live on. Whether you qualify and how much you receive depends on your circumstances.

Income Support might be suitable for you if:

  • You're sick or disabled
  • You're a lone parent (with some exceptions)
  • You are on parental or paternity leave and entitled to certain other benefits
  • You're a carer
  • You're registered blind
  • You are a refugee learning English and arrived less than a year ago

You may be eligible to receive Income Support if you:

  • Are 16 to 59 years old and live in Great Britain
  • Have a low income
  • Work less than 16 hours a week
  • Are not in full-time study
  • Do not get Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Do not have savings above £16,000

Young people in relevant education may also get Income Support. Income Support is not paid to young people who are being looked after by a local authority.

Volunteers receiving Income Support must inform Jobcentre Plus and let them know of any out-of-pocket expenses they receive.

How to make a claim

Call into your nearest Jobcentre Plus office.

Call Jobcentre Plus on Freephone 0800 055 66 88 or Textphone 0800 023 48 88, between 8am-6pm Monday to Friday. You will need to provide information including your National Insurance number, your bank account details, details about your rent or mortgage, details of your past or present employer and details of other income and savings.